An electrophysiological study of mechanisms controlling polyp retraction in colonies of the scleractinian coral Goniopora lobata

Abstract

1. Electrical or mechanical stimulation of Goniopora lobata produces coordinated retraction of polyps in the colony. With repetitive stimulation, the response spreads in linear, radial increments which become successively smaller with each stimulus. 2. Electrical activity recorded from these colonies is interpreted as originating in a conduction system responsible for effecting the colonial retraction response. The electrical activity spreads incrementally through the colony in a similar manner to the behavioural response. 3. Various hypotheses have been proposed to account for such a spread of electrical acitvity. Of these, only interneural facilitation is of appreciable importance to Goniopora. 4. Temporary termination of a pathway, by the passage of an impulse through it, was found and interpreted as being an additional and important property of the colonial conduction system.