Colin Foord和J.D. McKay撰写的《珊瑚形态学》的一篇非常有趣的论文最近发布了。十多年来，珊瑚形态学以通过艺术和网络摄像头将珊瑚亮起的斑点而闻名。但是他们的科学工作也引起了人们的关注，尤其是在迈阿密在水中壮成长的城市珊瑚。他们与NOAA Scientific合作，并提供了一些非常有趣的信息。
Classic Coral Morphologic art form of Pseudodiploria strigosa
城市珊瑚的适应速度比珊瑚礁珊瑚色快！
pseudodiploria strigosa是迈阿密海岸线的常见城市珊瑚十多年来，珊瑚形态一直试图使迈阿密的潮汐城市珊瑚及其潜在科学价值成为人们关注的焦点。这些令人惊讶的弹性珊瑚似乎比自然礁的海上避免了漂白和干疾病。在过去的两年中，他们一直与科学家合作NOAA通过分子实验室分析在现场收集的组织样本分析，可以解释这些差异，以解释这些差异。这项工作最终以'佛罗里达州迈阿密港口高度城市化地点内的珊瑚持续分子机制‘ published in the research journal海洋科学领域。
城市珊瑚使用耐热的共生体！
Pseudodiploria strigosa living in the port of Miami and outside water at low tide他们发现对称的大脑珊瑚（pseuododiploria strigosa）生活在城市环境（特别是与迈阿密的麦克阿瑟堤道和星岛一起）的生活。硬毒剂sp.共生藻类（Zooxanthellae）的菌株，在白天在白天为珊瑚提供光合作用。硬毒剂is known to be a heat-tolerant genus of zooxanthellae, and has long been investigated by scientists seeking to create bleaching-resistant ‘super corals’. However, until this study, the Symmetrical Brain Coral had rarely been observed hosting this species of zooxanthellae elsewhere in the region, making these observations here in Miami quite remarkable.
Another Pseudodiploria strigosa growing well in the port of Miami除了有用的共生体之外，还发现生活在城市环境中的对称脑珊瑚正在生产已知的蛋白质和酶来识别和消化病原体入侵者。这些蛋白质可能对珊瑚有两倍的益处，因为可以将引起疾病的微生物作为食物在感染珊瑚之前就被消化。bacterial concentrations that frequently require ‘no swim’ public health advisories. The ability to capture and extract more energy from food could enhance its health and provide sustenance during times of bleaching.
伪造的strigosa是标志性的加勒比海珊瑚These findings from a single species of urban coral in Miami’s coastal environment suggest further investigation is warranted in the variety of other reef-building species that have self-recruited to the City’s concrete and riprap shorelines. It also demonstrates how the human-made hydrogeologic conditions around PortMiami serve as an evolutionary gauntlet selecting for corals better adapted for life in the Anthropocene.We can’t emphasize enough, how this kind of work, is important. Corals have probably all the necessary tools in their over 500 million years genetic material, to adapt to new conditions. The question is will they have enough time to express it. We are very proud that this work is coming from within our industry, and can’t encourage enough other to follow the same path.
Vincent is a coral passionate aquarist with extensive experience in the industry, travelling the world to learn about corals. His background is a master degree in Marine Aquaculture. He set up the first Indonesian Coral mariculture farms at the beginning of the century and spent over 20 years in Indonesia running them. He's been extensively diving and documenting corals all over the Indo-Pacific.
