Briareum asbestinum
| Corky sea finger | |
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| In Pinar del Río Province, Cuba | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Alcyonacea |
| Family: | Briareidae |
| Genus: | Briareum |
| Species: | B. asbestinum
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| Binomial name | |
| Briareum asbestinum (Pallas, 1766)
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| Synonyms | |
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List
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Briareum asbestinum, commonly known as the corky sea finger, is a species of a soft coral in the family Briareidae.[1] It inhabits coral reefs and rocky bottoms in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Florida, often growing to 30 cm at depths of one to 40 metres.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and systematics[edit]
Although different in form, and different enough genetically to be considered as separate populations, the small encrusting polyps of Briareum asbestinum that grow on surfaces are still considered as conspecific with the larger, tall tube-shaped form.[5]
Description[edit]
This species grows large vertical cylindrical tubes or "fingers". These fingers are usually un-branched and may reach up to one metre in length.[5] The morphology of the fingers varies as those found in shallow (5m) water depth are shorter and stouter than those found at the deeper (35m) sites. Shallow water morphs also have shorter sclerites than their deepwater counterparts.This phenotypic plasticity results from unknown environmental factors, but may be the result of predation, light density reductions with depth, or increased fragility in shallow waters.[6]
Polyp density and colony thickness is also reduced at deeper depths.[6] The polyps are over 1cm in size, which produce a hairy appearance to the surface of the coral. This surface may be purple, grey, tan, brown or greenish-brown in colour underneath.[7][8]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
Briareum asbestinum is found in shallow tropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea in depths up to 35m. It can be abundant in back-reef areas, on areas of coral rubble, and is also found in seagrass beds.[7]
Behaviour and ecology[edit]
Briareum asbestinum can reproduce both sexually, by the annual release of gametes into the water column, and vegetatively by the growth of broken fragments that settle to the ocean floor and can colonize a suitable site.[9]
Threats[edit]
Briareum asbestinum is threatened by rising ocean temperatures that cause coral bleaching.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Briareum asbestinum (Pallas, 1766)". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ "Corky Sea Finger - Briareum asbestinum - Gorgonians - - Caribbean Reefs". reefguide.org. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ "Briareum asbestinum, Corky seafinger". www.sealifebase.se. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ Kinzie, R. A. (1971). The ecology of the gorgonians (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) of Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Ph.D. dissertation. New Haven: Yale University.
- ^ a b Brazeau, D.A.; Harvell, C.D. (1994). "Genetic structure of local populations and divergence between growth forms in a clonal invertebrate, the Caribbean octocoral Briareum asbestinum". Marine Biology. 119: 53–60. doi:10.1007/BF00350106. S2CID 85365324.
- ^ a b West, J. M.; Harvell, C. D.; Walls, A.-M. (March 31, 1993). "Morphological plasticity in a gorgonian coral (Briareum asbestinum) over a depth cline" (PDF). Marine Ecology Progress Series. 94: 61–69. Bibcode:1993MEPS...94...61W. doi:10.3354/meps094061.
- ^ a b "Coralpedia - Your guidie to Caribbean corals and sponges". coralpedia.bio.warwick.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ "NSUWorks - Briareum asbestinum". Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- ^ Lasker, Howard R. (1983-10-14). "Vegetative reproduction in the octocoral Briareum asbestinum (Pallas)". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 72 (2): 157–169. doi:10.1016/0022-0981(83)90141-7. ISSN 0022-0981.
- ^ Harvell, Drew; Kim, Kiho; Quirolo, Craig; Weir, Julianna; Smith, Garriet (2001). "Coral bleaching and disease: contributors to 1998 mass mortality in Briareum asbestinum (Octocorallia, Gorgonacea)". Hydrobiologia. 460 (1–3): 97–104. doi:10.1023/A:1013169331913. S2CID 24427909.
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