Recently, scientists have reported that a combination of extreme heat stress and a rare Black band disease has wiped out 75 per cent of Goniopora coral colonies at a site on the Great Barrier Reef.
About Goniopora Coral
It is also known as flowerpot or daisy coral, is a type of hard, soft coral belonging to the Poritidae family.
It is appreciated for its beautiful appearance as it possesses unique polyps that resemble flower petals.
Appearance: Colonies consist of small branching columns, usually oval in transverse section.
Size: Goniopora polyps can range from a few to several centimeters in diameter.
Habitat: It typically inhabits lagoons and turbid reefs and are considered thermally tolerant.
Goniopora are a photosynthetic coral and derive some of their nutritional requirements from light.
Symbiotic Relationship: They have a symbiotic relationship with dinoflagellates called zooxanthellae that live in the flesh of the coral.
Goniopora can thrive in a wide range of lighting.
Feeding: It is a predatory coral, meaning it obtains some of its nutrients by capturing small organisms in the water.
What is Black Band Disease?
It is a bacterial necrotic infection that invades living coral.
It forms a black band that crosses the infected coral, usually killing the colony.
It is common in Caribbean reefs and rare in Australian waters.
It is often linked to pollution or nutrient runoff
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
