The polyps of the colony can perceive the prescence of light. This is evident because the breeding and feeding cycles exhibited by this coral. Breeding occurs most abundantly for all members of the species at the time of the full moon so the amount of light must be able to be sensed. Ability to discern light is also concluded from the organisms nocturnal feeding habits. Like all cnidarians, a tactile response will be launched by triggering of the nematocyst system.
Communication Channels: chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
This species is harvested for medicinal uses off of Caribbean Islands where it is native. However, Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae is not currently endangered, threatened or protected.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae has three phases to the life cycle. As a result of the asychronous spawning, the unfertilized eggs are held by the female on reproductive polyps which are exposed to the currents to come into contact with sperm. The fertilized egg then develops into its larval stage over a time period of 1-2 days. Larvae are brooded first on the parental colony for a duration of 2-4 days and then are free swimming, ciliated, bilaterally symmetric planulae that are negatively buoyant. Settlement is frequently within a few hundred meters of the parent colony because of this negative buoyancy. The larva then settles on free space and continues to reproduce asexually to increase the number of zooids and take the adult form of long branches with pinnate branchlets.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis ; colonial growth ; indeterminate growth
There are no known adverse effects of Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae on humans.
This species has been studied for medicinal uses. The pseudopterosins that are produced have been used in medications such as analgesics, cosmetic creams and as a non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drug. The main compound isolated is pseudopterosin A, which is being studied because of the selectivity it exhibits as an analgesic. This species is also cultivated for fish tanks in the pet trade industry.
Positive Impacts: pet trade ; body parts are source of valuable material; source of medicine or drug ; research and education
There is a common mutualism, shared by most coral, with zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium spp.). The extent of this species and its role in the building of new reefs has not been fully investigated but other octocoral gorgonians, because they are firmly "rooted", may provide a base for other coral colonies to expand.
The flamingo tongue snail, Cyphoma gibbosums is an ectoparasite on Pseudopterogorgia sea plumes although P. elisabethae is not the preferred host species.
Ecosystem Impact: creates habitat
Mutualist Species:
Commensal/Parasitic Species:
The extended tentacles on the polyps of Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae actively catch nutrients in the form of detritus, zooplankton and microbes from the water column. Nutrients are also received through the corals' symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae (mostly clade-B). Excess sugar products are manufactured for the coral by the zooxanthellae in return for the protection, habitat and some wastes produced by the coral.
Animal Foods: other marine invertebrates; zooplankton
Plant Foods: phytoplankton
Other Foods: detritus ; microbes
Foraging Behavior: filter-feeding
Primary Diet: herbivore (Eats sap or other plant foods); planktivore ; detritivore
The Carribean sea plume, Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae, is found in the tropical Caribbean portion of the Atlantic Ocean. Countries that have documented its presence are the United States (Florida Keys), Honduras, San Salvador, Nicaragua, Columbia, the Bahamas, Belize, and Mexico. This species, as well as other gorgonian octocorals, are found most extensively in this region of the world.
Biogeographic Regions: atlantic ocean (Native )
Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae is usually found at deeper and calmer fore reef sites, up to depths of about 100 feet (31 m), and along reef drop offs.
Range depth: 25 to 30 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; saltwater or marine
Aquatic Biomes: reef
The life span of this species is unknown.
Pseudopterogorgonia elisabethae is frequently found as a bushy aggregation of feather-like branches, each resembling a plume, around a central axis. The branches are long, with pinnate, distichous branchlets. Orientation is often across the usual current direction to maximize surface exposure to the currents of the water column. This tall feathery morphology is more suitable for the deeper waters where the water movement is slower because the gentle currents will not uproot the structure.
Range length: 0.3 to 2 m.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; radial symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae is well equipped for defense. This species produces a chemical compound called pseudopterosins, secondary toxic metabolites, which act as a deterrent for most predators and microbes. However, the flamingo tongue snail, Cyphoma gibbosums is an ectoparasite that feeds on the tissue of sea plumes, although P. elisabethae is not the snail's preferred species. The flamingo tongue snail is a specially adapted predator for Gorgoniidae and is largely not susceptible to the defenses that Pseudopterogorgia has against other predators.
Known Predators:
After the larval form of Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae settles, it reproduces asexually to increase the number of zooids. Once it becomes the adult form it is separated into male and female colonies where it reproduces sexually. Males release sperm into the water which is taken up by the female colonies.
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae reproduces asexually to increase the number of zooids. When sexually spawning, male colonies release sperm into the water column and the female colonies remain stationary, catching sperm on the their unfertilized eggs as the currents pass through the females. This occurs one to three times a day for any individual colony. Colonies that are closer together are more probable to mate with each other than those colonies at further distances because of the mode of sperm transmission. The spawning of the species is asynchronous, meaning the releasing and producing gametes is not done in mass at one particular time but continues to happen throughout the year. However, spawning is higher on average between the months of November to January.
Breeding interval: Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae spawns throughout the year but is highest from November to January.
Breeding season: Reproduction occurs throughout the year.
Key Reproductive Features: year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; asexual ; fertilization (External )
Some parental care is exhibited by the female colonies as they brood their fertilized eggs on the branches of the mother colony for 1-2 days, while the eggs develop into the planula larval stage. The brooding of the fertilized egg/developing planula is generally for their protection against predators. Pre-fertilization care may also be present as the female of this species does not release her eggs into the currents but instead holds them on her branches to better increase the chance that they will be fertilized instead of eaten.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; female parental care ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Female)
