Behavior is one aspect of biology which is hard to document in our slow moving corals. Over the decades we aquarists have learned a lot about what our corals do and how they behave over long periods of time, but short and medium term observations are still challenging.
Macro and time lapse photography has shed light on many aspects of coral biology. These specialized photography techniques have helped us discover howFungiaandCycloseriscorals unbury themselves, it’s showed us howHomophyllia (Scolymia) australisis such a ravenous eater, and it’s also demonstrated the pulsing pattern of coral tissue.
However a new video from Tim Wijgerde and Coral Publications combines the best 4K macro photography and panning time lapse to bring us real close with the polyps of recognizable coral polyps. In this time lapse macro video you can clearly see the progression ofAcroporaandStylophorapolyp extension that spreads across the colony like a wave, rather than all at once.
The high resolution video of coral behavior is best viewed on a large high definition screen or monitor wherein the details of individual polyps and their movements can best be appreciated. We’d love to have a close up look at coral warfare, particle capture and a host of other fascinating coral behaviors so hopefully the Coral Publications team is motivated to do more and more focused videos like this in the future.
Let us and Tim know what corals and behaviors you’d like to see in future by commenting down below.
