Ecology
Habitat
Depth range based on 609 specimens in 26 taxa.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 264 samples.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 0 - 368
Temperature range (°C): 12.002 - 28.679
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.038 - 20.671
Salinity (PPS): 33.085 - 35.854
Oxygen (ml/l): 2.484 - 4.926
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.064 - 1.578
Silicate (umol/l): 0.523 - 22.502
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 0 - 368
Temperature range (°C): 12.002 - 28.679
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.038 - 20.671
Salinity (PPS): 33.085 - 35.854
Oxygen (ml/l): 2.484 - 4.926
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.064 - 1.578
Silicate (umol/l): 0.523 - 22.502
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 264 samples.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 0 - 368
Temperature range (°C): 12.002 - 28.679
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.038 - 20.671
Salinity (PPS): 33.085 - 35.854
Oxygen (ml/l): 2.484 - 4.926
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.064 - 1.578
Silicate (umol/l): 0.523 - 22.502
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 0 - 368
Temperature range (°C): 12.002 - 28.679
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.038 - 20.671
Salinity (PPS): 33.085 - 35.854
Oxygen (ml/l): 2.484 - 4.926
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.064 - 1.578
Silicate (umol/l): 0.523 - 22.502
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Evolution and Systematics
Functional Adaptations
Functional adaptation
Exoskeleton absorbs UV light: corals
"Many coral reef organisms are photosynthetic or have evolved in tight symbiosis with photosynthetic symbionts. As such, the tissues of reef organisms are often exposed to intense solar radiation in clear tropical waters and have adapted to trap and harness photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). High levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) associated with sunlight, however, represent a potential problem in terms of tissue damage…
"By measuring UVR and PAR reflectance from intact and ground bare coral skeletons we show that the property of calcium carbonate skeletons to absorb downwelling UVR to a significant extent, while reflecting PAR back to the overlying tissue, has biological advantages…
"Our study presents a novel defensive role for coral skeletons and reveals that the strong UVR absorbance by the skeleton can contribute to the ability of corals, and potentially other calcifiers, to thrive under UVR levels that are detrimental to most marine life." (Reef et al. 2009:e7995)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
The calcium carbonate exoskeletons of corals may help protect their photosynthetic symbionts by absorbing UV rays.
"Many coral reef organisms are photosynthetic or have evolved in tight symbiosis with photosynthetic symbionts. As such, the tissues of reef organisms are often exposed to intense solar radiation in clear tropical waters and have adapted to trap and harness photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). High levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) associated with sunlight, however, represent a potential problem in terms of tissue damage…
"By measuring UVR and PAR reflectance from intact and ground bare coral skeletons we show that the property of calcium carbonate skeletons to absorb downwelling UVR to a significant extent, while reflecting PAR back to the overlying tissue, has biological advantages…
"Our study presents a novel defensive role for coral skeletons and reveals that the strong UVR absorbance by the skeleton can contribute to the ability of corals, and potentially other calcifiers, to thrive under UVR levels that are detrimental to most marine life." (Reef et al. 2009:e7995)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
- Reef R; Kaniewska P; Hoegh-Guldberg O. 2009. Coral skeletons defend against ultraviolet radiation. PLoS One. 4(11): e7995.
- Choi C. 2009. Coral reefs act like sunscreen. Science [Internet],
© The Biomimicry Institute
Source:
AskNature
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Statistics of barcoding coverage
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
| Specimen Records: | 12 | Public Records: | 6 |
| Specimens with Sequences: | 9 | Public Species: | 3 |
| Specimens with Barcodes: | 9 | Public BINs: | 1 |
| Species: | 4 | ||
| Species With Barcodes: | 4 | ||
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
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Barcode data
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
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Locations of barcode samples
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
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