Identifying AGRRA Corals: Part 3 Plates and Other Agariciids Judith Lang and Kenneth Marks Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) Program Revision: 2013-05-22 www.agrra.org © K. Marks © K. Marks © K. Marks 1

For images used in Part 3, our special thanks to: The following images are Copyright © by New World Publications and by other photographers. Permission is granted to use the photographs and slides in this presentation with the AGRRA Program and, with attribution, for other valid educational purposes.. All other uses are strictly prohibited. For images used in Part 3, our special thanks to: P. Humann, M. Nugues, D. Petersen, R. Steneck, G. van Moorsel (ecosub.nl) 2

Reminder: What to Look for Underwater Adapted from P.R. Kramer Colony shape – massive (= mound, columnar, heavy plates), crust, plate, branching Colony size range – small to big Colony surface – bumpy, smooth, ridged Polyp size – small to big Polyp shape – round, elliptical, irregular, Y-shaped Polyp colour – brown, tan, yellow, olive, green, red Septal shape – fat, thin; smooth, toothed Reminder: What to Look for Underwater

Reminder: AGRRA Coral Species The stony corals illustrated here are limited to species found in the wider Caribbean at depths (<20 m) typical of most AGRRA surveys. The names of some of these corals are changing as a result of modern research. More taxa are added as we gain underwater photographs of species that are rare and/or of geographically limited distributions. Expect periodic updates! Photographers who can enhance this collection are encouraged to contact Judy Lang at: jlang@riposi.net or info@agrra.org For each species: (# in m and ft) = maximum colony size Reminder: AGRRA Coral Species

Coding Corals in AGRRA Surveys Use the CARICOMP-based coral codes. The coral code for a genus (or occasionally a species complex) is the first 4 letters of its genus name and should be used whenever you are unsure of a coral’s species identity: AGAR = Agaricia The coral code for a species is the first letter of the genus name followed by the first 3 letters of its species name: ALAM = Agaricia lamarcki Codes are shown before names appear on the introductory slide for species that are commonly recorded in AGRRA surveys.

Agariciid Corals small polyps; meandroid colonies (polyp mouths in valleys, between ridges) © K. Marks Helioseris thick, wide discontinous ridges Agaricia thick, wide ridges Undaria thin, pointed ridges unifacial and platy only narrow valleys are short and/or long unifacial or bifacial platy or massive wide, shallow, long valleys wide, short valleys or individual polyps © K. Marks

Some species of Agaricia (agaricites, tenuifolia, humilis) were reclassified as species of Undaria on the basis of morphological characters. See Budd et al., 1994 (reference given on final slide). More recent molecular analyses may result in a future reversal of this designation (J. Stake, pers. comm., Sept. 2011).

Undaria agaricites UAGA © K. Marks Close-up UAGA small polyps in long rows or short reticulations pointed ridge tops tan to many shades of brown; some fluoresce pink or orange © M. Nugues

Undaria agaricites UAGA examples of variation in shape: unifacial - crusts, plates, low mounds bifacial - mounds with keels or thick lobes (to ~ 1 m/3 ft) © K. Marks 9

Undaria agaricites UAGA many colonies may settle and grow close together © P. Humann

Undaria tenuifolia UTEN thin, vertical keels are elongate or dissected small polyps in long rows or short reticulations yellowish, grey or brown large (to ~ 4 m/12 ft) UTEN © K. Marks © K. Marks

Undaria tenuifolia UTEN © R. Steneck How differs from keeled U. agaricites: much thinner keels, colonies are much larger when fully grown

Which is Which? U. agaricites U. tenuifolia UAGA UTEN © K. Marks © R. Steneck Which is Which? © K. Marks U. agaricites U. tenuifolia UAGA UTEN

Complications! Some keeled colonies of U. agaricites closely resemble small U. tenuifolia. If unsure of species identity, code as: Undaria UNDA

Undaria humilis UHUM tiny, densely packed, polyps with deep centers reticulate ridges have pointed tips yellowish to dark brown small crusts (to ~ 12 cm/5 in) © D. Petersen UHUM © G. van Moorsel Close-up UHUM 15

Undaria humilis UHUM How differs from U. agaricites: polyps are smaller, more densely packed, have deeper centers crusts don’t develop platy edges colonies are smaller when fully grown Undaria humilis UHUM Close-up © G. van Moorsel

Which is Which? U. agaricites U. humilis UAGA UHUM Close-up © G. van Moorsel U. agaricites U. humilis UAGA UHUM

Complications! Some small colonies of U. agaricites closely resemble U. humilis. If unsure of species identity, code as: Undaria UNDA

Agaricia fragilis AFRA © K. Marks AFRA tiny polyps with low ridges in long rows that are sometimes contorted and have relatively few, if any, reticulations tan, yellow- to dark- brown; can have bright colours and/or polyps that lack zooxanthellae thin plates (to ~ 15 cm/6 in)

Agaricia fragilis AFRA Close-up expanded polyps contracted polyps polyps may be sunken and appear constricted Agaricia fragilis AFRA © G. van Moorsel

Agaricia fragilis AFRA How differs from all U. humilis and U. agaricites: thicker ridges have few, if any, reticulations thinner skeletons + from platy U. agaricites: smaller polyps, and colonies are smaller when fully grown © K. Marks Agaricia fragilis AFRA © K. Marks © P. Humann © P. Humann

Which is Which? A. fragilis U. agaricites U. humilis AFRA UAGA UHUM 22 © K. Marks © P.Humann A. fragilis U. agaricites U. humilis AFRA UAGA UHUM 22

Agaricia lamarcki ALAM © P. Humann Close-up © K. Marks polyps with conspicuous, white mouths in long rows or shorter reticulations thick ridges with broad, rounded or somewhat pointed tops yellow- to dark- brown thick, heavy plates (to ~ 2 m/6 ft)

Agaricia lamarcki ALAM How differs from A. fragilis and platy U. agaricites: larger polyps thicker, denser skeletons colonies are larger when fully grown + from U. agaricites: polyp mouths more distinct © K. Marks

Which is Which? © M. Nugues A. lamarcki U. agaricites ALAM UAGA

Helioseris cucullata HCUC* *HCUC was considered a species of Leptoseris for several decades. © K. Marks HCUC* Close-up outward-facing polyp mouths at the bases of steep, thick ridges of variable length conspicuous septa

Helioseris cucullata HCUC © K. Marks tan, yellow-brown, brown; may fluoresce greenish, blue or grey colours very thin plates (to ~ 2 m/6 ft)

Helioseris cucullata HCUC How differs from A. fragilis: larger polyps higher ridges + from platy U. agaricites: polyp mouths at bases of steep, thick, outward-facing ridges thinner plates © K. Marks partially bleached HCUC

Which is Which? © P. Humann H. cucullata U. agaricites HCUC UAGA 29

Which is Which? © K. Marks A. fragilis H. cucullata AFRA HCUC 30

Reference Budd, A.F., T.A. Stemann, and K.G. Johnson. 1994. Stratigraphic distribution of genera and species of Neogene to Recent Caribbean reef corals. Journal of Paleontology 68: 951-977.