A.+bowerbanki

Erika Chilvers Temperature- 28C Salinity- 34PPs High Tide- 2.17 Feet Low Tide- 1.07 Feet Difference between the two- 1.10 Feet Kuroshio North Pacific North Equitorial East Australia Genus- Acanthastrea Species- A. bowerbanki Class- Anthozoa Order- Scleractinia Family- Mussidae Year Assessed- 2008 Justification- A. Bowerbanki is on the endangered species list because of declines in habitat quality and reef destruction and reef reductions. Acanthastrea Bowerbank is found in the Pacific Ocean Latitudes: between 38 north and 38 south Where animal lives in habitat- lives in Pacific Ocean near Australia, Japan, Fijii, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, and Phillipines. This species is found in lower reef slopes protected from wave action. Size: 5 inches when fully expanded Color: has a bunch of different colors throughout it like red, orange, white, and tan. Texture: has a brain like shape and look. Corals can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Sexually- Internally fertilized eggs are brooded by the polyp for days til weeks. Externally fertilized eggs develop while adrift. Synchronous spawning occurs in many corals. Asexual- Environmental disturbances may damage some polyps or portions of colonies. Can create thousands of eggs per reproduction section. 1. Has multiple tentacles with nematocysts. 2. Zooxanthellae are microscopic organisms that live inside of some corals. 3. Polyps get the minerals to build their skeleton from the seawater. 4. Polyp tentacles have stinging cells to paralyze their prey. 5. Polyps are very simple, with only two cell layers. 6. Polyp has a mouth which is connected to their gastrovacular cavity. 7.Polyp's epidermis contains nematocysts and sensory receptors. 8. At the bottom of the coral is the Scierites. 9.Colonial coral polyp's are connected by coenosteum. 10. Coenosteum is skeletal material between walls of adjacent coralites. A. Bowerbanki is a filter feeder and also uses photosynthesis to get energy. As well as is a carnivore and will eat blood worms and squid. A. Bowerbanki is eaten by starfish, parrotfish, angelfish, and sea slugs. Some people have this species as pets, so the people who fish and catch them it helps them economically. Acanthastrea Bowerbanki are helpful nutrionally and medically. This specie is very susceptible to bleaching, disease, and other threats and that is why the A. Bowerbanki are endangered. Also, it takes about 10 years for this specie to mature so because their is a demmand for them for people's houses as pets. When they get taken out of the water they aren't of age to mature and reproduce. As well as fishing and human development like industries. All coral is listed CITES Appendix II. As well as being in a Marine protected area. Other recommended measures for conserving this animal includes research in things like taxonomy and population. And how people having knowledge on these things will help them look out more for this species. 1. Close off the reefs so that know fisherman or divers can take the A. Bowerbanki and sell them for pets, or just limit the amount. 2. Try and be enivornmental friendly so the coral reefs aren't getting destroyed from bleaching. 3. Set up a A. Bowerbanki growing area on land then when there is a lot of them put them out back in the sea. Most corals are actually in a relationship with another coral. Earliest coral is seen in the fossil record during the Cambrian period.
 * Common Name**: Starry Cup Coral
 * Physical Habitat Features:**
 * Tides:**
 * Currents-**
 * Geological Processes:** Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Sea Floor Spreading, Subduction
 * Animal Classification:**
 * Endangered Species Act:**
 * Location of Ecosystem:**
 * Migration Patterns**- This species does not migrate.
 * Population:** There is no specific population information available for this species.
 * Survival Trends of Species:** Their species is decreasing because of bleaching, diseases, and other threats.
 * Appearance:**
 * Reproduction:**
 * Anatomy:**
 * Food Chain:**
 * Economic Importance of Species:**
 * Threats and Reasons for Endangerment:**
 * Conservation Efforts:**
 * Solutions:**
 * Additional Information:**
 * Visual:

Questions:** 1. What is one way people are trying to conserve A. Bowerbanki? 2. What are their migration patterns? 3. List two ways in which they eat?

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