Polyp expansion of passive suspension feeders: a red coral case study.

ABSTRACT: Polyp activity in passive suspension feeders has been considered to be affected by several environmental factors such as hydrodynamics, water temperature and food concentration. To better elucidate the driving forces controlling polyp expansion in these organisms and the potential role of particle concentration, the octocoral Corallium rubrum was investigated in accordance with two approaches: (1) high-frequency in-situ observations examining various environmental and biological variables affecting the water column, and (2) video-recorded flume-controlled laboratory experiments performed under a range of environmental and biological conditions, in terms of water temperature, flow speed, chemical signals and zooplankton. In the field, C. rubrum polyp expansion correlate

SUBMITTER: Rossi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6625502 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature