About Goniopora Coral:
- It is also known as flowerpot or daisy corals, is a type of hard, soft coral belonging to the Poritidae family.
- It is appreciated for its beautiful appearance as it possesses unique polyps that resemble flower petals.
- It typically inhabits lagoons and turbid reefs and considered thermally tolerant.
- Goniopora are a photosynthetic coral and derive some of their nutritional requirements from light. It can thrive in a wide range of lighting.
- Symbiotic Relationship: They have a symbiotic relationship with dinoflagellates called zooxanthellae that live in the tissues of the coral.
- Feeding: It is a predatory coral, meaning it obtains some of its nutrients by capturing small organisms in the water.
What is Black band disease?
- It is a bacterial necrotic infection that invades living coral.
- It forms a black band that crosses the infected coral, usually killing the colony.
- It is common in Caribbean reefs and rare in Australian waters.
- It is often linked to pollution or nutrient runoff.
