Maintenance of living space by sweeper tentacles of Montastrea cavernosa,a caribbean reef coral |
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Authors: | C A Richardson P Dustan J C Lang |
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Institution: | (1) Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, P-003, 92093 La Jolla, California, USA;(2) Department of Marine Studies, University of Texas, 78712 Austin, Texas, USA |
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Abstract: | The reef-building coral Montastrea cavernosa Linnaeus possesses sweeper tentacles which have enlarged nematocyst batteries. Sweeper tentacles appear to be used in defense of the coral's living space and may successfully deter mesenterial filament attacks from the more aggressive coral M. annularis. M. cavernosa therefore possesses a specialized defensive strategy that has not been taken into account by present models describing spatial competition in coral reef ecosystems. |
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