title: Growth anomalies on Acropora cytherea corals.
abstract: This ten-year study examined the morphological, physiological, and ecological characteristics of coral growth anomalies on Acropora cytherea on Amuro Island, Okinawa, Japan. The objectives of the study were to assess whether the growth anomalies, identified as diffuse disruptions on the skeleton: (i) were more prevalent on large colonies than on small colonies, (ii) were more common near the center of the colonies than peripherally, (iii) affected colony growth and mortality, and (iv) affected coral-colony fecundity and photosynthetic capacity. We hypothesized that the growth anomalies were signs of the onset of aging. The growth anomalies were more prevalent on colonies>2 m diameter, and were concentrated near the central (older) portions of the colonies. The growth anomalies were also associated with reduced productivity and dysfunctional gametogenesis. Still, the growth anomalies did not appear to affect colony survival. The contact experiments showed that the growth anomalies were not contagious, and were most likely a sign of aging that was exacerbated by thermal stress.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan. acroporacytherea@gmail.com
authors.forename: Akiyuki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Irikawa
authors.forename: Beatriz E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Casareto
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agostini
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hidaka
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Woesik
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D007564:Japan; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants