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I'm adding to this article for a project in our Physiological Ecology of Animals course at UConn.

For the article Porites:

Ecology

Corals in the genus Porites are found in reefs throughout the world. For example, it is a dominant taxon on the Pandora platform of the Great Barrier Reef. Potts et al. (1985) identified 7 dominant species: P. lobata, P. solida, P. lutea, P. australiensis, P. mayeri, P. murrayensis, and P. anae. The oldest of six colonies in this reef was approximately 700 years old, and was estimated to be growing at 10.3 mm per year.[1]

Meyer and Schultz (1985) demonstrated that P. furcata have a mutualistic relationship with the schools of French and White Grunts (Haemulon flaviolineatum and H. plumieri) that rest in their heads during the day. The fish provide it with ammonium, nitrates, and phosphorus compounds. Coral heads with resting grunts experience significantly higher growth rates and nitrogen composition than those without.[2]

Physiology

Some species in this genus demonstrate high levels of halotolerance. In the Gulf of Thailand, for example, P. lutea tolerates daily tidal shifts of 10-30% salinity. Moberg et al. (1997) determined that when the salinity declines, the symbiotic zooxanthellae decrease their photosynthesis rate as the coral contracts its polyps to protect them. The corals maintain their metabolic rate by temporarily switching to heterotrophy, consuming prey such as brine shrimp and other zooplankton.[3]

Porites growth rates can be determined by examining annual rings in their skeleton. This method was used to determine that P. astreoides grows its skeleton about the central axis by approximately 3.67mm/year, calcifies at approximately 0.55g/cm²/year, and increases density in this region of the body at approximately 1.69g/cm³/year. [4] Additionally, Meyer and Schultz (1985) reported that coral growth varies seasonally. They observed that P. furcata's growth rate peaked between May and August, which is summertime in their Caribbean habitat.

Threats

Threats to corals in the genus Porites include predation, climate change, and anthropogenic pollution. When exposed to increased temperatures and copper, P. cylindrica slowed its rate of production. Additionally, the symbiotic zooxanthellae reduced their photosynthesis rate when exposed to both stressors. [5]

Done and Potts (1992) observed that when settled, larvae in Porites are vulnerable to competition from other corals and predation from sea urchins. Additionally, mortality likelihood increases following strong storms.[6]

Potts, D.C.; Done, T.J.; Isdale, P.J.; Fisk, D.A. (1985). "Dominance of a Coral Community in the Genus Porites Scleractinia". Marine Ecology Progress Series 23 (1): 79–84. doi:10.3354/meps023079. Meyer, J.L.; Schultz, E.T. (1985). "Tissue Condition and Growth Rate of Corals Associated with Schooling Fish". Limnol. Oceanogr 30 (1): 157–166. Moberg, F.; Nystrom, M.; Kautsky, N.; Tedengren, M.; Jarayabhand, P. (1997). "Effects of reduced salinity on the rates of photosynthesis and respiration in the hermatypic corals Porites lutea and Pocillopora damicornis". Marine Ecology Progress Series 157: 53–59. Elizalde-Rendon, E.M.; Horta-Puga, G.; Gonzalez-Diaz, P.; Carricart-Ganivet, J.P. (2010). "Growth characteristics of the reef-building coral Porites astreoides under different environmental conditions in the Western Atlantic". Coral Reefs 29 (3): 607–614. Nystrom, M.; Nordemar, I.; Tedengren, M. (2001). "Simultaneous and sequential stress from increased temperature and copper on the metabolism of the hermatypic coral Porites cylindrica". Marine Biology (Berlin) 138 (6): 1225–1231. Done, T.J.; Potts, D.C. (1992). "Influences of habitat and natural disturbances on contributions of massive Porites corals to reef communities". Marine Biology (Berlin) 114 (3): 479–493. doi:10.1007/BF00350040.

BBres96 (talk) 04:56, 29 April 2016 (UTC)