Cushion star (Culcita schmideliana) preys on coral polyps in Gulf of Mannar, Southeast India. Issue 2 (4th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Raj, K. D.; Mathews, G.; Bharath, M. Selva; Laju, R. L.; Kumar, P. Dinesh; Arasamuthu, A.; Edward, J. K. Patterson
• Is Part Of: Marine and freshwater behaviour and physiology. Volume 51:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 125
• Page End: 129
• Publication Date: 2018-03-04
• Subjects: Coral reefs -- predation -- Culcita schmideliana -- temperature; Marine animals -- Physiology -- Periodicals; Marine animals -- Behavior -- Periodicals; Freshwater animals -- Physiology -- Periodicals; Freshwater animals -- Behavior -- Periodicals; Marine biology -- Periodicals; Aquatic animals -- Periodicals; 591.77
• DOI: 10.1080/10236244.2018.1473013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1023-6244

Abstract

Abstract: Corallivore animals play vital role in coral reef ecology. Predation on corals by other organisms has not been studied properly in the Indian waters. This study reports the first observation of predation by cushion star ( Culcita schmideliana ) on coral polyps in Gulf of Mannar (GoM), southeast India. During our regular underwater surveys in GoM, C. schmideliana was found preying on hard coral Acropora formosa and soft coral Sarcophyton sp. at a depth of 3 m in Vilanguchalli patch reef. Though C. schmideliana has been sighted often under water, it has not been observed to predate on corals in GoM before. The area where predation was observed has a major population of hard corals (50.21%) besides seagrasses (8.36%) and soft corals (6.11%). Temperature anomalies and the consequent coral bleaching could be the factors making C. schmideliana prefer coral polyps.