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The study showed that free-living corals Cycloseris cyclolites are able to actively move in the direction of blue light using a pulse inflation mechanism, which increases their adaptability to changing environmental conditions.
Unlike substrate-attached corals, Cycloseris cyclolites are free-living, which allows them to move around freely. A study by scientists at the University of Queensland, led by Dr. Brett Lewis, has shown that these corals exhibit purposeful movement towards light, contrary to the popular belief that they are passive. The results of the work were published in the journal PLoS ONE.
High-resolution time-lapse photography has captured a unique locomotion mechanism called pulse inflation. This process involves the rhythmic inflating and deflating of coral tissue, which reduces friction and increases buoyancy, allowing water currents to guide it in the desired direction.
In addition to movement, pulse inflation helps corals self-right when they are upside down, clear sediment after storms, and phototaxis, a response to light that helps them find optimal living conditions. The study showed that Cycloseris cyclolites show a significant preference for blue light: 86,7% of individuals move towards a blue light source, while only 20% respond to white light. This is consistent with their preference for living in deeper areas of the reef, where the blue spectrum dominates.
Scientists note parallels between the mechanism of coral movement and jellyfish swimming, which may indicate a greater complexity of their nervous organization than previously thought.
The results of this study have important implications for coral reef ecology, as they provide insights into mechanisms of adaptation to climate change. Understanding the behavioral strategies of mobile corals will help predict their ability to survive in the face of rising ocean temperatures and sea level changes.
