Acropora globiceps, commonly known as Stony Coral, is a species of hard coral that exhibits a distinctive and intricate structure. This coral is a vital part of the diverse and vibrant coral reef ecosystems.
Description & Characteristics
Acropora globiceps is characterized by its branching growth form. The coral colonies can reach a considerable size, with individual branches extending outwards. The surface of the coral is typically covered in small, rounded polyps, giving it a somewhat bumpy appearance.
Habitat and Occurrence
Acropora globiceps can be found in a variety of marine habitats. The coral species thrives in subtidal, sublittoral, and infralittoral zones. It typically inhabits waters from the lower limit of the intertidal zone to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth. These zones fall under the neritic category. Due to this wide range of depth, Acropora globiceps is a prevalent component of these aquatic ecosystems.
Taxonomy
Acropora globiceps belongs to the family Acroporidae, which is a group of corals renowned for their branching and table-like forms. This family falls under the order Scleractinia, which comprises the true stony corals. The entire order is part of the class Hexacorallia, a diverse group of cnidarians characterized by having six or multiples of six tentacles.
Feeding
Acropora globiceps, like other stony corals, derives nourishment from two primary sources. The first is through the capture of plankton, microscopic organisms that drift through the water column. The coral polyps extend their tentacles, which are equipped with stinging cells called nematocysts, to capture these food sources. The second source of nutrition comes from a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae known as zooxanthellae. These algae reside within the coral tissues and photosynthesize, providing the coral with a significant portion of its energy needs in exchange for a protected environment and access to nutrients. This dependence on light for the zooxanthellae necessitates that Acropora globiceps inhabits well-lit environments.
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