Bubble Coral
by KJ Swan
Title
Bubble Coral
Artist
KJ Swan
Medium
Photograph
Description
When the sun streams through salty water to touch the shallow reefs of the Indo-Pacific, a strange transformation takes place - tentacles are withdrawn and grape-sized “balloons” bloat.
Because of an usual symbiotic relationship with a photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae) Bubble corals (Plerogyra sinuosa) expand their bulbous polyps during the day allowing more light to enter. The algae dinoflagellates provide the coral with organic carbon and nitrogen, sometimes providing up to 90% of their host's energy needs for metabolism and growth. The coral’s remaining needs are met by the planktonic organisms caught during the night by it’s tentacles.
These fascinating and somewhat bizarre creatures can be found attached to a reef’s surface from Okinawa to the Line Islands in the Pacific. Common names for Plerogyra sinuosa are Bubble coral, Grape coral, Bladder coral, Pearl coral or Bubble Pearl coral. According to the IUCN, Bubble coral are fragile and currently classified as Near-threatened.
Uploaded
September 16th, 2023
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