Comparison of the Particulate Feeding Abilities of Three Species of Gorgonian Soft Coral

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Abstract
Particulate feeding abilities of Briarium abestimum, Pseudoplexaura porosa and Pseudopterogorgia americana were measured from in situ and flow tank experiments. Although these species do not readily capture naturally occurring zooplankton, they can capture and ingest particulate matter (Artemia cysts). Suspension feeding capabilities of the three are ranked P. porosa > P. americana > B. abestimum. Variance in feeding between polyps, branches and colonies of the same species is high. In flow tank experiments polyps on the downstream side of B. abestimum colonies had greater capture rates than upstream polyps. The inability to capture zooplankton and the effect of polyp position on particle capture is believed to be a consequence of low densities of nematocysts among these 3 spp.