Rafi Amar, Israel
Info
Darwiniella conjugatum (Darwin, 1854)
There are around 80 species of coral barnacles worldwide.
The coral-dwelling barnacle of the genus Darwiniella Anderson, 1992 is a member of the family Pyrgomatidae, which forms a symbiotic relationship with host corals.
Darwiniella was long considered a monotypic genus represented by Darwiniella conjugatum (Darwin, 1854). It was not until 2012 that another species of the genus was discovered in Taiwan: Darwiniella angularis Chan, Chen & Lin, 2012
Numerous invertebrates are associated with coral reef ecosystems, and many of them are symbiotic forms that contribute significantly to the overall biodiversity of reef fauna. Coral-associated barnacles (Thoracica: Pyrgomatidae) are particularly common and occur in almost all coral species worldwide.
These suspension-feeding barnacles have embedded their shell plates into the coral skeleton, and the symbiotic relationship extends to the nutritional level with the zooxanthellae in the coral.
The barnacles absorb organic material released by the zooxanthellae, while the zooxanthellae in turn absorb ammonium released by the barnacles.
The colonization and metamorphosis of the feeding juveniles (barnacles) took 8-11 days and comprised six stages:
The settling cyprid first pierces the tissue of its future host with its antennae (I: probing stage). The coral releases digestive filaments in defense, but the cyprid tolerates this attack and continues to penetrate (II: combat stage).
Ecdysis is completed 2 days after settlement (III: shell detachment).
During metamorphosis, the barnacle becomes deeply embedded in the coral tissue between 4 and 6 days (IV: embedding stage), but reappears as a feeding juvenile 8-11 days after settlement (V: emergence stage; VI: feeding stage).
Cyprids prefer to settle in areas between coral polyps, where they have a much higher survival rate than on the polyp surfaces.
In order to avoid being hindered or overgrown by the growth of the coral itself, the barnacle uses chemical substances that selectively interfere with the growth of the coral.
There are around 80 species of coral barnacles worldwide.
The coral-dwelling barnacle of the genus Darwiniella Anderson, 1992 is a member of the family Pyrgomatidae, which forms a symbiotic relationship with host corals.
Darwiniella was long considered a monotypic genus represented by Darwiniella conjugatum (Darwin, 1854). It was not until 2012 that another species of the genus was discovered in Taiwan: Darwiniella angularis Chan, Chen & Lin, 2012
Numerous invertebrates are associated with coral reef ecosystems, and many of them are symbiotic forms that contribute significantly to the overall biodiversity of reef fauna. Coral-associated barnacles (Thoracica: Pyrgomatidae) are particularly common and occur in almost all coral species worldwide.
These suspension-feeding barnacles have embedded their shell plates into the coral skeleton, and the symbiotic relationship extends to the nutritional level with the zooxanthellae in the coral.
The barnacles absorb organic material released by the zooxanthellae, while the zooxanthellae in turn absorb ammonium released by the barnacles.
The colonization and metamorphosis of the feeding juveniles (barnacles) took 8-11 days and comprised six stages:
The settling cyprid first pierces the tissue of its future host with its antennae (I: probing stage). The coral releases digestive filaments in defense, but the cyprid tolerates this attack and continues to penetrate (II: combat stage).
Ecdysis is completed 2 days after settlement (III: shell detachment).
During metamorphosis, the barnacle becomes deeply embedded in the coral tissue between 4 and 6 days (IV: embedding stage), but reappears as a feeding juvenile 8-11 days after settlement (V: emergence stage; VI: feeding stage).
Cyprids prefer to settle in areas between coral polyps, where they have a much higher survival rate than on the polyp surfaces.
In order to avoid being hindered or overgrown by the growth of the coral itself, the barnacle uses chemical substances that selectively interfere with the growth of the coral.
