Histological Examination of Precious Corals from the Ryukyu Archipelago

In this paper we examined the histology of three commercially valuable species of precious corals (Paracorallium japonicum, Corallium elatius, and C. konojoi) from the Ryukyu Archipelago. In order to observe their inner structure, samples were thin sectioned and examined with a digital light microsc...

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Main Authors: Masanori Nonaka, Masaru Nakamura, Makoto Tsukahara, James Davis Reimer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2012-01-01
Series:Journal of Marine Biology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/519091
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spelling doaj-e0155a990fd44852a4fc6fd63509494f2020-11-25T03:30:29ZengHindawi LimitedJournal of Marine Biology1687-94811687-949X2012-01-01201210.1155/2012/519091519091Histological Examination of Precious Corals from the Ryukyu ArchipelagoMasanori Nonaka0Masaru Nakamura1Makoto Tsukahara2James Davis Reimer3Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, 424 Ishikawa Motobu-Cho, Okinawa 905-0206, JapanSesoko Marine Laboratory, University of the Ryukyus, Sesoko Motobu-Cho, Okinawa 905-0206, JapanOkinawa Churaumi Aquarium, 424 Ishikawa Motobu-Cho, Okinawa 905-0206, JapanTransdisciplinary Research Organization for Subtropical Island Studies, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, JapanIn this paper we examined the histology of three commercially valuable species of precious corals (Paracorallium japonicum, Corallium elatius, and C. konojoi) from the Ryukyu Archipelago. In order to observe their inner structure, samples were thin sectioned and examined with a digital light microscope. Colonies of C. konojoi had thicker coenenchyme and larger autozooids than those of C. elatius and P. japonicum. The sclerites of the three species tended to be concentrated in the outer layers of coenenchyme. The gastric cavities of autozooids of all three species were found to be relatively empty. Some symbiotic polychates were observed in the axis of P. japonicum. As well, a zoanthid (Corallizoanthus tsukaharai) was often observed living on the coenenchyme surface of P. japonicum. It is hoped our observations will provide a good foundation of future study of Japanese Coralliidae corals.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/519091
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Masanori Nonaka
Masaru Nakamura
Makoto Tsukahara
James Davis Reimer
spellingShingle Masanori Nonaka
Masaru Nakamura
Makoto Tsukahara
James Davis Reimer
Histological Examination of Precious Corals from the Ryukyu Archipelago
Journal of Marine Biology
author_facet Masanori Nonaka
Masaru Nakamura
Makoto Tsukahara
James Davis Reimer
author_sort Masanori Nonaka
title Histological Examination of Precious Corals from the Ryukyu Archipelago
title_short Histological Examination of Precious Corals from the Ryukyu Archipelago
title_full Histological Examination of Precious Corals from the Ryukyu Archipelago
title_fullStr Histological Examination of Precious Corals from the Ryukyu Archipelago
title_full_unstemmed Histological Examination of Precious Corals from the Ryukyu Archipelago
title_sort histological examination of precious corals from the ryukyu archipelago
publisher Hindawi Limited
series Journal of Marine Biology
issn 1687-9481
1687-949X
publishDate 2012-01-01
description In this paper we examined the histology of three commercially valuable species of precious corals (Paracorallium japonicum, Corallium elatius, and C. konojoi) from the Ryukyu Archipelago. In order to observe their inner structure, samples were thin sectioned and examined with a digital light microscope. Colonies of C. konojoi had thicker coenenchyme and larger autozooids than those of C. elatius and P. japonicum. The sclerites of the three species tended to be concentrated in the outer layers of coenenchyme. The gastric cavities of autozooids of all three species were found to be relatively empty. Some symbiotic polychates were observed in the axis of P. japonicum. As well, a zoanthid (Corallizoanthus tsukaharai) was often observed living on the coenenchyme surface of P. japonicum. It is hoped our observations will provide a good foundation of future study of Japanese Coralliidae corals.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/519091
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AT makototsukahara histologicalexaminationofpreciouscoralsfromtheryukyuarchipelago
AT jamesdavisreimer histologicalexaminationofpreciouscoralsfromtheryukyuarchipelago
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