A.+hemprichii

**Acanthastrea Hemprichii (Starry Cup Coral)

** 

Kingdom - Animalia Phylum - Cnidaria Class - Anthozoa Order - Sceleractinia Family - Mussidae 
 * This coral was put on the IUCN Red List in 2008 and is classified as Vulnerable.
 * Its common threats are bleaching, disease, and the extensive reduction of the coral reef


 * LOCATION**

These corals are found in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean's temperature is 28.5 degrees celcius. The salinity is 35 ppt. The geological proccesses that occur in the Indian Ocean are tsunamis, volcanoes, earthquakes, sea floor spreading, and subduction. The tidal range for the Inidan Ocean is .55 meters.

Currents and tides: Agulhas Current, East Madagascar Current, Somali Current, Mozambique Current, Leeuwin Current, Indonesia Through-flow, North Equatorial Current, South Equatorial Current, Indian Monsoon.




 * DESCRIPTION**

This coral forms large encrusting colonies over the surface of rocks. They are colony-forming corals. They're soft-bodied animals, related to anemones. They have numerous tentacles which direct food into the central mouth where they digest in a sac-like body cavity. Polyps of this species are generally uniform or mottled brown, grey or green, but may occasionally appear more brightly coloured exhibiting, for example, vibrant shades of purple.

Colonies are massive, usually hemispherical and often over 0.5 m across. Corallites are up to 25 mm diameter and cerioid, becoming plocoid on the colony sides. Septa are mostly uniform, with large teeth. Colonies have thick fleshy tissue over the skeleton. 


 * POPULATION**

The population of these creatures is unknown, but they are known to be rare and uncommon. There is clear evidence that the colony populations have significantly declined.

**ANATOMY/PHYSIOLOGY/FOOD**  One of the more interesting and ecologically important features of the corals is that the polyps secrete on a hard skeleton, a corallite. This contributes to the formation of the coral reef. The skeleton forms the bulk of the colony. 

The coral and the algae have a symbiotic relationship. They benefit each other. The algae gains a stable environment within the coral's tissues, while the coral receives nutrients produced by the algae through the process of photosynthesis. By harnessing the sun's energy in this way, corals are able to grow rapidly and form vast reef structures, but are constrained to live near the water surface.

Besides photosynthesis the coral may also feed on zooplankton. The polyps' tentacles, which contain stinging cells called “nematocysts”, trap the passing zooplankton directing it into the central mouth, which also acts as an anus to excrete waste products after digestion.

A. hemprichii is capable of both asexual reproduction. The polyps proliferate through the production of clones asexually, or the polyps spawn large numbers of sperm and eggs sexually. The fertilized eggs develop into planktonic larvae, which travel through the water column, before settling and metamorphosing into a sessile polyp.
 * REPRODUCTION**


 * THREATS

** These corals as well as all coral reefs, are threatened with extinction to this day. Global warming, the rise in sea temperature and climate is one major threat associated with these animals. This leads to coral bleaching, where the algae is expelled, leaving the corals weak and vulnerable to an increasing variety of harmful diseases and lacking food. Climate change is also expected cause more extreme weather incidents and to increase ocean acidification, which impairs the coral's ability to form a skeleton. These global threats are compounded by***QU** threats from pollution, destructive fishing practices, invasive species and human development.

Many of these corals are also targeted for the aquarium trade, with 1,000 live pieces exported from Indonesia each year. While this species is currently abundant and widespread, loss of coral reef habitat indicates that it is declining, and with so many potential threats to its survival, could rapidly become threatened.

Like all coral species, ** Acanthastrea Hemprichii is on the Endang ered Species List (CITES). which means that all international trade is strictly controlled by the use of permits and annual quotas. In addition, this coral falls within several Marine Protected Areas across its range. Specific conservation measures recommended for this species include carrying out extensive studies of its population, biology, and ecology, along with more research into existing and potential threats. In addition, surveys to monitor the effects of collecting for the aquarium trade would be useful to ensure that the Starry Cup Coral is not being overexploited. Finally, in response to the threat of climate change, artificial propagation and preservation of sperm and eggs may be necessary to safeguard this species against complete extinction.
 * CONSERVATION

1. Although this coral is protected under the Endangered Species Act, I would have the government especially in the Indian Ocean area to make stronger laws against boating and fishing in these areas. 2. Since the coral is important for the aquarium trade, I would try harder to protect them from this by making more reservations for them. 3. Global warming is a big threat towards the coral, so I would do my best to make this situation more aware. It is a controversy topic that you hear about daily but the public should be more aware how global warming is effecting these marine life creatures. **
 * SUGGESTIONS


 * QUIZ*

1. What ocean is the Starry Cup Coral most populated in? 2. That are three major threats towards this coral? 3. True or False: They can reproduce both sexually and asexually.**

[] [] [] [] [] [|http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/OC5/WOA05F/woa05f.h]