Interspecific Aggression by Scleractinian Corals 2. Why the Race is Not Only to the Swift

Lang, Judith

Species specific aggressive interactions have been found among West Indian and Indo-Pacific sclcractinian corals. When the polyps of different corals touch each other, the species which arc "stronger" aggressors extrude mesenterial filaments over their "Jess aggressive" neighbors, dissolving those tissues within reach by extracoelentric forms of digestion. Interspecific aggression by corals may occur under natural or experimental conditions. For any population, the interactions of different species have a definite and consistent hierarchical structure. Most highly aggressive species belong to the suborder Faviina, have massive or encrusting growth forms, construct relatively small coralla, and arc usually minor components of coral reef communities. They use aggressive interaction as a defense against overgrowth by the more rapidly expanding ramose and foliose corals, and to clear space for their own growth. Some faviids are moderately strong aggressors which construct primary reef framework in many West Indian habitats. Ramose and encrusting corals of the family Acroporidae, which occupy an intermediate position in the aggression hierarchy, also construct reef framework; interspecific aggression is common in mixed acroporid reefs. Weak aggressors include the foliose agariciids, which may form the predominant cover in deep reef zones.

Interspecific Aggression by Scleractinian Corals 2. Why the Race is Not Only to the Swift

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