Coral in the Red Sea have been observed for the first time eating jellyfish, which scientists believe may be evidence of the coral, which are threatened by climate change, adapting to their new conditions.
The mushroom coral, (Fungia scruposa) generally feed on tiny plankton measuring 0.2 – 0.4mm, and energy products from photosynthetic algae, but they have never before been reported eating adult jellyfish. Yet recently scientists have captured photos of stationary mushroom coral consuming a large moon jellyfish.
The Israeli researchers, Omri Bronstien from Tel Aviv University and Gal Dishon from Bar-Ilan University first discovered the phenomenon while doing a dive survey on the reefs near Eilat earlier this year, when they saw several corals eating the jellyfish.
Moon jellyfish, which are usually preyed upon by fish, turtles and sea birds, have been recently increasing in numbers in the Red Sea, and the discovery was made during a large bloom of the jellyfish.
No other coral is known to eat such large organisms – the moon jellyfish is almost as large as the mushroom coral itself and it is still unknown how the coral manages to catch its prey.
Unlike most coral species, which build reefs composed of hundreds of polyps, the mushroom coral is solitary and made up of only one polyp, which grows up to 30cm in diameter. These corals are not attached to the seabed, and therefore have a limited ability to move.
The researchers believe the coral’s ability to eat a wider variety of foods may be evidence of the coral adapting to survive in a changing world.
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