Parisa Alidoost Salimi; Pargol Ghavam Mostafavi; Allen Chen; Seyed Mohammad Reza Fatemi
Abstract
Bryozoans are known as one of the coral-associated and cryptic fauna that plays an important role in sediment stabilization and contributes to framework-building species same as corals. However, little is known about bryozoan species occurring in the coral communities of Iranian islands. During a coral ...
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Bryozoans are known as one of the coral-associated and cryptic fauna that plays an important role in sediment stabilization and contributes to framework-building species same as corals. However, little is known about bryozoan species occurring in the coral communities of Iranian islands. During a coral survey in Abu-Musa and Sirri Islands, Celleporaria pigmentaria was observed on some dead parts of Porites harrisoni and coralline red algae at depth of 3-8m. After sampling, specimens were bleached and were examined under a stereomicroscope and SEM. Specimens were identified to the species level based on skeleton and morphological traits according to available taxonomic guide. This species is one of the common and successful coral-associated bryozoan that belongs to Cheilostomatida. The C. pigmentaria easily recognized with black encrusting colonies, white blotches scattered over the colony surface as well as the non-uniform arrangement of its zooecia. This case study is the first report of C. pigmentaria in coral communities of Iran.
