Cladocora caespitosa
{{Short description|Species of coral}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Capo Gallo 063 Cladocora caespitosa.jpg
| status = EN
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| taxon = Cladocora caespitosa
| authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)
| synonyms = * Madrepora caespitosa Linnaeus, 1767
}}
Cladocora caespitosa, commonly known as cushion coral, is a stony coral of the subclass Hexacorallia.{{cite WoRMS|title=Cladocora caespitosa|id=135146|access-date=30 Oct 2014}} This species forms the only true coral reef in the Mediterranean Sea.
The species has been observed to demonstrate rejuvenescence, a unique survival strategy that enables the species to recover after warming events.{{cite journal | last=Kersting | first=Diego K. | last2=Linares | first2=Cristina | title=Living evidence of a fossil survival strategy raises hope for warming-affected corals | journal=Science Advances | publisher=American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) | volume=5 | issue=10 | date=2019-10-04 | issn=2375-2548 | doi=10.1126/sciadv.aax2950 | page=| pmc=6785258 }}
Description
The polyps are a clear maroon colour, around 5 mm in diameter and form cushion-shaped colonies, in symbiosis with Zooxanthella algae. They produce deposits of calcium carbonate which form the calciate structures in which they live. It is the largest stony coral in the Mediterranean, reaching up to 50 cm in diameter. C. caespitosa has an average generation length of about 30 years.
{{Clear|left}}
Distribution and habitat
This species is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, where it is attested already in the Upper Pliocene. It is common on rocky seabeds between a few metres and 60 metres in depth. In the marine lagoon of Veliko Jezero, in the marine reserve of Mljet island, Croatia, there is a small coral reef made up of C. caespitosa. It was believed to be the only true coral reef in the Mediterranean.{{cite journal|first1=Petar |last1=Kružić |first2= Antonieta |last2=Požar-Domac|title=Banks of the coral Cladocora caespitosa (Anthozoa, Scleractinia) in the Adriatic Sea|date=2003|doi=10.1007/s00338-003-0345-y|journal=Coral Reefs|volume=22|issue=4|pages= 536 }}
Recent findings in the Adriatic Sea show that Cladocora caespitosa is not the only reef-building species of the Mediterranean Sea.{{cite journal|first1=Giuseppe |last1=Corriero |first2= Pierri |last2=Cataldo|title=A Mediterranean mesophotic coral reef built by non-symbiotic scleractinians|date=2019|doi=10.1038/s41598-019-40284-4|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=9|issue=3601|pages= 18 |doi-access=free|pmc=6401148}}
File:Cladocora caespitosa Maratea.jpg, Maratea, Potenza. Upper Pleistocene. The "bushy" form of the colony (left image), the external structure and the internal structure of the individuals (right images) are visible.]]
Reproduction
The colonies grow through budding, but the species spreads through the settlement of plankton-like larva on seabed suited to colonisation.
Threats
Cladocora caespitosa is classified as endangered under the IUCN red list, mostly based on recent mass die-offs caused by heat wave events in the Mediterranean.
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book|last=Trainito|first=Egidio|title=Atlante di flora e fauna del Mediterraneo|edition=2004|publisher=Il Castello|location=Milano|year=2004|isbn=978-88-8039-395-5}}
- {{cite book|title=Flora e Fauna del Mediterraneo|author=Mojetta A.|author2=Ghisotti A|publisher=Mondadori|year=2003|isbn=978-88-04-38574-5}}
- {{cite journal|first1=Petar |last1=Kružić |first2= Antonieta |last2=Požar-Domac|title=Banks of the coral Cladocora caespitosa (Anthozoa, Scleractinia) in the Adriatic Sea|date=2003|doi=10.1007/s00338-003-0345-y|journal=Coral Reefs|volume=22|issue=4|pages= 536 }}
- {{cite journal|first1=Giuseppe |last1=Corriero |first2= Pierri |last2=Cataldo|title=A Mediterranean mesophotic coral reef built by non-symbiotic scleractinians|date=2019|doi=10.1038/s41598-019-40284-4|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=9|issue=3601|pages= 18 |doi-access=free|pmc=6401148}}
{{Commons}}