Sipunculans occupy several habitats within the coral-reef community, often
occurring in great densities. They may be found in burrows of their own formation
within dead coral rock, wedged into crevices of rock and rubble, under rocks, or
within algal mats covering the surfaces of rocks. In addition, sand-burrowing species
commonly occur in the sand around coral heads and on the sand flats of lagoons.
Only one species of sipunculan is known to be associated with a living coral. This
is Aspidosiphon jukesi Baird 1873 which lives commensally in the base of two genera
of solitary corals, Heteropsammia and Heterocyathus. This review will consider
first the mutualistic association of the sipunculan and solitary coral and then the
association, more broadly defined, of the rock-boring and sand-burrowing sipunculans
as members of the coral reef community.
Member of
Contributors
Publisher
University of Guam Press
Date Issued
1976
Note
Language
Type
Genre
Form
Extent
14 p.
Subject (Topical)
Identifier
FA00007092
Additional Information
Sipunculans occupy several habitats within the coral-reef community, often
occurring in great densities. They may be found in burrows of their own formation
within dead coral rock, wedged into crevices of rock and rubble, under rocks, or
within algal mats covering the surfaces of rocks. In addition, sand-burrowing species
commonly occur in the sand around coral heads and on the sand flats of lagoons.
Only one species of sipunculan is known to be associated with a living coral. This
is Aspidosiphon jukesi Baird 1873 which lives commensally in the base of two genera
of solitary corals, Heteropsammia and Heterocyathus. This review will consider
first the mutualistic association of the sipunculan and solitary coral and then the
association, more broadly defined, of the rock-boring and sand-burrowing sipunculans
as members of the coral reef community.
occurring in great densities. They may be found in burrows of their own formation
within dead coral rock, wedged into crevices of rock and rubble, under rocks, or
within algal mats covering the surfaces of rocks. In addition, sand-burrowing species
commonly occur in the sand around coral heads and on the sand flats of lagoons.
Only one species of sipunculan is known to be associated with a living coral. This
is Aspidosiphon jukesi Baird 1873 which lives commensally in the base of two genera
of solitary corals, Heteropsammia and Heterocyathus. This review will consider
first the mutualistic association of the sipunculan and solitary coral and then the
association, more broadly defined, of the rock-boring and sand-burrowing sipunculans
as members of the coral reef community.
Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution 30
This manuscript is an author version with the final publication
available and may be cited as:Rice, M. E. (1976). Sipunculans associated with coral communities.
Micronesica, 12(1) 119-132.
available and may be cited as:Rice, M. E. (1976). Sipunculans associated with coral communities.
Micronesica, 12(1) 119-132.
Date Backup
1976
Date Text
1976
Date Issued (EDTF)
1976
Extension
FAU
IID
FA00007092
Organizations
Attributed name: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Person Preferred Name
Rice, M. E.
Physical Description
14 p.
Title Plain
Sipunculans associated with coral communities
Origin Information
1976
University of Guam Press
Agana
Place
Agana
Title
Sipunculans associated with coral communities
Other Title Info
Sipunculans associated with coral communities