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Regular budding modes in a zooxanthellate dendrophylliid T urbinaria peltata (Scleractinia) revealed by X ‐ray CT imaging and three‐dimensional reconstruction
Author(s) -
Sentoku Asuka,
Ishibashi Masatsugu,
Masumoto Shinji,
Ohno Rie,
Tomiyama Takayuki,
Machiyama Hideaki,
Tadai Osamu,
Ezaki Yoichi
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.20402
Subject(s) - scleractinia , biology , anthozoa , coral , ecology , cnidaria
The zooxanthellate dendrophylliid coral, Turbinaria peltata (Scleractinia), exhibit various growth forms that increase the photoreception area through the development of coenosteum skeletons. Because it is difficult to make detailed observations of the internal structures, we visualized inner skeletal structures using nondestructive microfocus X‐ray computed tomography (CT) imaging. After removal of the coenosteum skeletons from the X‐ray CT images, three‐dimensional 3D‐models were reconstructed for individual corallites. Regular budding was observed from the 3D‐model and cross‐sectional images as follows: 1) lateral corallites occurred only near the two primary septa on one side, apart from a directive primary septum with distinct polarity; 2) the budding occurred upward at acute angles; and 3) these regular structures and polarity were repeated throughout growth with every generation. Even in zooxanthellate dendrophylliids, the same budding modes as observed in azooxanthellate equivalents control the colonial growth. These characteristics provide clues for understanding the mechanisms that regulate the shapes of modular marine organisms. J. Morphol. 276:1100–1108, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.