Coralliophila abbreviata: A significant corallivore
Brawley SH and Adey WH. 1982. Coralliophila abbreviata: A significant corallivore. Bulletin of Marine Science. 32(2):595-599
Predation by Coralliophila abbreviata on Acropora palmata was observed in the field and in coral reef microcosm. The mollusks removed as much as 16 cm squared or coral tissue/day/animal. The damage was irreversible, and algal colonization quickly occurred over the skeleton in areas stripped of living tissue. We describe aspects of Coralliophila behavior during feeding and following desplacement experiments. The extent of Coralliophila predation on corals appears to be limited on some reefs by fish predation, but these mollusks are significant corallivores when predation pressure is low. Our observations suggest that feeding by Coralliophila can also attract other corallivores (butterflyfish) to a colony, accelerating its death. Abstract provided by author.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Brawley, Susan; Adey, Walter
- Units
- BUIS
- Keywords
- Acropora palmata, Algae, Butterflyfish, Coral Reef, Coralliophila abbreviata, Crustaceans, echinoderms, Fish, Growth, Impact, Microcosm, Mollusks, polychaetes, Predators