Pentapora fascialis

Researched By	Angus Jackson	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	Dr Peter J. Hayward
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Pentapora fascialis	Common name	Ross coral
MCS Code	Y418	Recent Synonyms	Pentapora foliacea, Lepralia foliacea
Phylum	Bryozoa	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Gymnolaemata
Subclass		Order	Cheilostomatida
Suborder		Family	Bitectiporidae
Genus	Pentapora	Species	fascialis
Subspecies
Additional Information	Sometimes misleadingly called "ross coral". The above taxonomy uses the most recent nomenclature according to Hayward & Ryland (1999). The Species Directory of the British Isles (Howson & Picton, 1997) placed Pentapora fascialis in the family Hippoporinidae under the species name Pentapora foliacea. Older classification schemes used the species Lepralia foliacea, e.g. the Plymouth Marine Fauna (Marine Biological Association 1957) and Bruce et al. (1963).
Taxonomy References	Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward et al., 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1999, Bruce et al., 1963, MBA, 1957, Hayward & Ryland, 1979
General Biology
Growth form	Foliose, Globose	Feeding method	Active suspension feeder
Mobility/Movement	Permanent attachment	Environmental position	Epibenthic, Epilithic
Typical food types	No text entered	Habit	Attached
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Medium-large(21-50cm)
Height	Up to 10 cm	Growth Rate	2 cm/year
Adult dispersal potential	None	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Colonial
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information	Densities in the Bristol Channel have been recorded as up to one large colony per square metre. Populations in the Mediterranean have been recorded at densities of up to 7 colonies per square metre. Pentapora fascialis grows initially as an encrusting sheet, which seems able to regenerate erect growths (P.J. Hayward pers. comm.). Size ranges refer to colony diameter. Colony size is typically up to 20 cm in diameter and large specimens reach 40 cm across. The largest recorded specimen was from the Eddystone Light and had a circumference of over 2 metres and a depth of 30 cm (Hayward & Ryland, 1979). Specimens of Pentapora fascialis in the Mediterranean reach larger sizes (80cm diameter, 50 cm in height) in deeper waters (40-80 m). Colony shape has been described as 'depressed globular' or 'dome-like' with an elliptical perimeter (Cocito et al., 1998(a)). Growth rates in the Bristol Channel have been estimated at around 2 cm (vertical height) per year through the use of stable oxygen isotope values (Patzold et al., 1987.). Another growth rate estimate (from the Mediterranean) indicates growth of over 200% colony surface area in 11 months (Cocito et al., 1998). Vertical growth has been recorded at up to 3.5 cm per year (Cocito & Ferdeghini, 1998 cited in Cocito et al., 1998). The calcified laminae are rather brittle. Pentapora fascialis characteristically supports several bryozoans including Amphiblestrum flemingii, Callopora dumerilii, Membranipora nitida & Smittoidea reticulata (Hayward& Ryland, 1979). Large colonies may shelter 1000's of other animals (Hayward & Ryland, 1979).
Biology References	Hayward et al., 1996, Patzold et al., 1987, Cocito et al., 1998(a), Sala et al., 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1979, Cocito et al., 1998(b)
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Common along the South coast of England as far east as Beachy Head. Also the south west, the western extremities of Wales and the Isle of Man. In Ireland present along the south west and north coasts. Scarce records from the Hebrides and St Kilda.
Global distribution	Pentapora fascialis is also found in the western Mediterranean and Adriatic.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	11 - 80m
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	Off Lundy in the Bristol Channel, most common below 18 m and abundant between 25 -34 m (Hayward & Ryland, 1979). Pentapora fascialis is recorded as settling on artificial substrata in the Ligurian sea (Geraci, 1974 cited in Cocito et al., 1998(b) Pentapora fascialis is recorded as being present (off the British Isles) in temperatures between 8 & 14 °C and salinity of 34.5 psu (Patzold et al., 1987).
Substratum preferences	Bedrock, Artificial (e.g. metal/wood/concrete), Large to very large boulders	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed
Biological zone	Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral	Wave exposure	Very Exposed, Exposed, Moderately Exposed, Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately Strong (1-3 kn)	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
Distribution References	Hayward et al., 1996, Patzold et al., 1987, Cocito et al., 1998(a), Sala et al., 1996, Bruce et al., 1963, MBA, 1957, JNCC, 1999, Picton & Costello, 1998, Hayward & Ryland, 1979, Cocito et al., 1998(b)
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Insufficient information	Developmental mechanism	Lecithotrophic
Reproductive Season	February to October	Reproductive Location	Insufficient information
Reproductive frequency	Annual protracted	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	6-10 years	Age at reproductive maturity	See additional information
Generation time	Insufficient information	Fecundity	Insufficient information
Egg/propagule size	Insufficient information	Fertilization type	Insufficient information
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Insufficient information Larval settlement period Insufficient information Duration of larval stage <1 day
Additional Information	Pentapora fascialis is perennial, (Eggleston, 1972a) and probably lives for several years. Stable oxygen isotope values have shown colonies to be at least 3 years old (Patzold et al., 1987) and other estimates of growth rate suggest that Pentapora fascialis colonies in the Mediterranean are 10 years old or more (Cocito et al., 1998(a)). In Pentapora fascialis, the presence/absence of ovicells is taken to be a reliable indicator of reproductive status and as such is a feature of sexual maturity (Cocito et al., 1998(b)). In the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve, colonies were reported to have ovicells present in September, indicating a reproduction event in September or late August (Lock et al., 2006). Colonies of Pentapora fascialis as small as 2.8 cm have been recorded as having ovicells. Reproductive ability is gained at an early stage of colony development (Cocito et al., 1998(b)). Larval settling time is inferred from another Cheilostomata bryozoan species, Bugula neritina (Keough & Chernoff, 1987). Gautier (1962) records ovicells being present all year round. Cocito et al., (1998(b)) note the presence of ovicells in Pentapora fascialis in the northwestern Mediterranean from February to October. Patzold et al. (1987) record the formation of a growth band in Pentapora fascialis during times of reduced reproductivity. This growth check line appears during periods of colder water temperatures.
Reproduction References	Patzold et al., 1987, Cocito et al., 1998(a), Cocito et al., 1998(b), Eggleston, 1972, Keough & Chernoff, 1987, Gautier, 1962, Lock et al., 2006