Dr. Zoe Richards, / Western Australian Museum, Australien
Info
Very special thanks for the first two photos of the Coral-mimicking alga (Eucheuma arnoldii) to Dr. Zoe Richards, Research Associate | Hard Corals | Department of Aquatic Zoology
Research Fellow | Curtin University, Western Australian Museum, Australia.
One of the most important strategies, whether of animal or plant, is their dispersal and the passing on of their genes.
In the sea, eating and being eaten, the ancient game of "hunter and hunted", has played a crucial role since time immemorial, the hunted seeking their salvation through the most sophisticated adaptations and tactics, the predators trying to adapt to the methods of their prey again and again, in part processes developed over many centuries.
A quite astonishing survival strategy has been developed by the red alga Eucheuma arnoldii, a soft, sessile alga that would be on the menu of many sea creatures if it had not reacted to the feeding pressure threatening it with an unusual measure: the alga engages in mimicry and has "adopted" the appearance of a hard-to-digest stony coral.
Mimicry can refer to the appearance, color, smell, behavior, or locomotion of other creatures, among other things.
The alga was found in the Ashmore Reef National Wildlife Refuge in water depths between 12 and 14 meters.
It seems almost unbelievable that the alga also deceptively mimics the tapering branches and blue branch tips known as growing tips in acropores.
The first photos of this "mimicry red alga" were kindly provided by Dr. Zoe Richards, Research Associate | Hard Corals | Department of Aquatic Zoology
Research Fellow | Curtin University, Western Australian Museum, Australia.
We have attached the full report on this great alga as a pdf. file attached.
Synonym: Eucheuma cupressoideum Weber-van Bosse, 1928
Source:
Coral-mimicking alga Eucheuma arnoldii found at Ashmore Reef, north-western Australia
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014
Coral Reefs (2014) 33:441
DOI 10.1007/s00338-013-1121-2
Research Fellow | Curtin University, Western Australian Museum, Australia.
One of the most important strategies, whether of animal or plant, is their dispersal and the passing on of their genes.
In the sea, eating and being eaten, the ancient game of "hunter and hunted", has played a crucial role since time immemorial, the hunted seeking their salvation through the most sophisticated adaptations and tactics, the predators trying to adapt to the methods of their prey again and again, in part processes developed over many centuries.
A quite astonishing survival strategy has been developed by the red alga Eucheuma arnoldii, a soft, sessile alga that would be on the menu of many sea creatures if it had not reacted to the feeding pressure threatening it with an unusual measure: the alga engages in mimicry and has "adopted" the appearance of a hard-to-digest stony coral.
Mimicry can refer to the appearance, color, smell, behavior, or locomotion of other creatures, among other things.
The alga was found in the Ashmore Reef National Wildlife Refuge in water depths between 12 and 14 meters.
It seems almost unbelievable that the alga also deceptively mimics the tapering branches and blue branch tips known as growing tips in acropores.
The first photos of this "mimicry red alga" were kindly provided by Dr. Zoe Richards, Research Associate | Hard Corals | Department of Aquatic Zoology
Research Fellow | Curtin University, Western Australian Museum, Australia.
We have attached the full report on this great alga as a pdf. file attached.
Synonym: Eucheuma cupressoideum Weber-van Bosse, 1928
Source:
Coral-mimicking alga Eucheuma arnoldii found at Ashmore Reef, north-western Australia
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014
Coral Reefs (2014) 33:441
DOI 10.1007/s00338-013-1121-2
