Bamboo coral, family Isididae, is a family of mostly deep-sea coral of the phylum Cnidaria.[1][2] It is a commonly recognized inhabitant of the deep sea, due to the clearly articulated skeletons of the species.[3] Deep water coral species such as this are especially affected by the practice of bottom trawling. These organisms may be an important environmental indicator in the study of long term climate change, as some specimens of bamboo coral have been discovered that are 4,000 years old.[4]
Relatively little is known about bamboo coral.[5][6] The skeletons of bamboo coral are made up of calcium carbonate in the form of tree-like branches alternating with joint-like nodes or axes composed of gorgonin protein.[7][8] The alternation of the bony structures with the smaller gorgonin parts give the bamboo coral a finger-like appearance similar to that of the bamboo plant on land.[7] Bamboo coral was reported in 2005 to have been found on a dozen seamounts in the Pacific Ocean between Santa Barbara, California, and Kodiak, Alaska.[9] Ages and growth rates of bamboo coral in the deepest water are unknown. However, based on radiocarbon-based growth rate and age data from specimens in the Gulf of Alaska, the life span has been estimated to be between 75 and 126 years.[10]
Recently, a mission funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) discovered seven new species of bamboo coral in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, a U.S. national monument lying primarily in deep waters off the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, using the Pisces V. Of these seven new species, six may represent completely new genera (that is, major new classification categories). Data from these findings are still being analyzed.[11] A bamboo coral "tree", five feet tall, was described for the first time by the mission. Scientists also found an area of dead coral, about 10,000 square feet (930 m2) and more than 2,000 feet (610 m) deep. The cause of death of the coral community is unknown but it is estimated to have occurred several thousand to perhaps over a million years ago.[12]
Deep sea bamboo coral provides the ecosystems to support deep sea life and also may be among the first organisms to display the effects of changes in ocean acidification caused by excess carbon dioxide, since they produce growth rings similar to those of a tree and can provide a view of changes in the condition in the deep sea over time. Some bamboo coral can be especially long-lived; coral specimens as old as 4,000 years were found at the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, giving scientists a window into the ocean's past. One scientist said the coral provided "4,000 years worth of information about what has been going on in the deep ocean interior".[4] Deep water coral organisms such as bamboo coral are especially affected by the practice of bottom trawling.[9] Other research has raised the possibility that Isididae corals, because of their potential to mimic biological properties, may potentially be used as living bone implants as well as in aquatic cultivation.[7]
The following genera are currently described in the family Isididae:[13]
This bamboo coral branches at the gorgonin internodes .jpg)
Fragments of fossil Keratoisis melitensis (Goldfuss, 1826) from the Lower Pleistocene of Cape Milazzo, Sicily, Italy. Bamboo coral, family Isididae, is a family of mostly deep-sea coral of the phylum Cnidaria. It is a commonly recognized inhabitant of the deep sea, due to the clearly articulated skeletons of the species. Deep water coral species such as this are especially affected by the practice of bottom trawling. These organisms may be an important environmental indicator in the study of long term climate change, as some specimens of bamboo coral have been discovered that are 4,000 years old.
Isididae es una familia de gorgonias marinas que pertenecen al suborden Calcaxonia, del orden Alcyonacea, dentro de la clase Anthozoa.
Enmarcados comúnmente entre los corales blandos, ya que carecen de esqueleto cálcico como los corales del orden Scleractinia, por lo que no son corales hermatípicos.
Forman colonias de pólipos, unidos por una masa carnosa de cenénquima, o tejido común generado por ellos, que recubre una estructura ramificada para soportar la colonia; sustituyendo el carbonato de calcio de los esqueletos de los corales duros, por una sustancia córnea proteínica llamada gorgonina, específica de las gorgonias marinas. Pueden tener un fijador calcáreo, o base calcárea, a modo de raíz, para el sustrato blando.[1]
Dependiendo de la especie, tienen pólipos retráctiles o no retráctiles, y son fotosintéticas o no lo son.
La familia comprende 39 géneros y aproximadamente 137 especies de gorgonias, que se caracterizan por tener un eje segmentado, consistente en nodos de gorgonina pura, alternando con internodos calcáreos sólidos, u, ocasionalmente, tubulares. La familia no ha sido objeto de análisis filogenéticos moleculares.[2]
Esta característica, de la apariencia de su esqueleto, es el origen de su nombre común, coral bambú.
El Registro Mundial de Especies Marinas reconoce los siguientes géneros en Isididae:[3]
Isididae es una familia de gorgonias marinas que pertenecen al suborden Calcaxonia, del orden Alcyonacea, dentro de la clase Anthozoa.
Enmarcados comúnmente entre los corales blandos, ya que carecen de esqueleto cálcico como los corales del orden Scleractinia, por lo que no son corales hermatípicos.
Forman colonias de pólipos, unidos por una masa carnosa de cenénquima, o tejido común generado por ellos, que recubre una estructura ramificada para soportar la colonia; sustituyendo el carbonato de calcio de los esqueletos de los corales duros, por una sustancia córnea proteínica llamada gorgonina, específica de las gorgonias marinas. Pueden tener un fijador calcáreo, o base calcárea, a modo de raíz, para el sustrato blando.
Dependiendo de la especie, tienen pólipos retráctiles o no retráctiles, y son fotosintéticas o no lo son.
La familia comprende 39 géneros y aproximadamente 137 especies de gorgonias, que se caracterizan por tener un eje segmentado, consistente en nodos de gorgonina pura, alternando con internodos calcáreos sólidos, u, ocasionalmente, tubulares. La familia no ha sido objeto de análisis filogenéticos moleculares.
Esta característica, de la apariencia de su esqueleto, es el origen de su nombre común, coral bambú.
Les Isididae sont une famille de cnidaires anthozoaires de l'ordre des Alcyonacea. Ce sont des coraux abyssaux, souvent appelés « coraux bambous » en raison de leur métamérisation marquée.
En Atlantique Nord-Est, cette famille est indicatrice des écosystèmes marins vulnérables au niveau desquels la pêche de fond est interdite au-delà de 400 m de profondeur[1].
Selon World Register of Marine Species (11 mars 2017)[2] :
Lepidisis sp.
Sphaerokodisis sp.
Les Isididae sont une famille de cnidaires anthozoaires de l'ordre des Alcyonacea. Ce sont des coraux abyssaux, souvent appelés « coraux bambous » en raison de leur métamérisation marquée.
En Atlantique Nord-Est, cette famille est indicatrice des écosystèmes marins vulnérables au niveau desquels la pêche de fond est interdite au-delà de 400 m de profondeur.
Isididae Lamouroux, 1812 è una famiglia di octocoralli dell'ordine Alcyonacea.[1]
Isididae comprende circa 135 specie di gorgonie. Le colonie di questa famiglia si distinguono per un asse segmentato costituito da nodi di gorgonina pura alternati a internodi calcarei non scleritici solidi (o occasionalmente tubolari).[2]
Le specie di questa famiglia vengono anche chiamati "coralli bambù" in quanto nei rami l'alternanza delle strutture ossee (internodi) con le parti di gorgonina più piccole (nodi) conferisce al corallo un aspetto simile a quello della omonime piante.
Questi coralli sono insieme ad altre Sclerattinie e Antipatharia fra gli organismi esistenti più longevi in assoluto. Nel 2007 una missione scientifica finanziata dal NOAA ha scoperto degli esemplari vivi di coralli di bambù nelle acque profonde del parco nazionale marino delle Hawaii di Papahānaumokuākea risalenti a oltre 4.000 anni fa.[3]
Queste specie vivono prevalentemente in acque profonde e sono diffuse in tutti i mari del mondo. Alcune specie vivono in acque dove ancora arriva la luce del sole (zona eufotica) e queste specie sono in simbiosi con zooxantelle. Nel Mediterraneo sono presenti 3 specie: la più nota è la gorgonia bambù bianca (Isidella elongata) che vive su fondali sabbiosi a profondità di 100-200 metri[4]; le altre due sono Acanella arbuscula e Acanella furcata[5].
La famiglia è suddivisa in quattro sottofamiglie comprendenti i seguenti generi:[1][6][7][8][9]
Isididae Lamouroux, 1812 è una famiglia di octocoralli dell'ordine Alcyonacea.
Isididae zijn een familie van zachte koralen uit de orde van Alcyonacea.
Isididae zijn een familie van zachte koralen uit de orde van Alcyonacea.
Isididae é uma família de corais da subordem Calcaxonia.
Isididae é uma família de corais da subordem Calcaxonia.
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