Coral nervous system curiousity

[seaguy7]

This might be a bit random but I am wondering what is known about a coral's nervous system. We know a coral has a nervous system in the simplest terms in that, for example, it detects stimuli and responds with polyp retraction or extension. I read somewhere that the nervous system was completely contained within the coralite. That is, each coralite "thinks" independently. I am not sure whether this is the accepted view of biologists or whether the view is that there is a broader central nervous system.

I was looking at my tank and wondering how is it that the same coral knows not to grow into itself? Two branches from the same coral never seem to grow together and touch yet two dissimilar corals will grow into each other until they touch. This would seem to imply that:

1) each coralite has some sense of itself as the union of coralites.
or
2) a coralite has a way to sense another similar coralite but not a dissimilar one.
or
3) that there is a broader nervous system and the coral has a sense of itself as a whole.
or
4) something else going on that I don't understand.

Does anyone know?

 

[KarlBob]

A number of scientists, including Ian Lawn and Ian McFarlane at the University of Queensland in Australia, have published research on cnidarian nervous systems. To find articles, try the search terms coral through-conduction system and coral through-conducting system. Unfortunately, my quick search for the full text of the studies mostly turned up links to pay sites.

From what I gather, Nos. 1) and 3) above may be on the right track. Somehow, coral polyps seem to share information within a colony.

If you find out more, please share it with us.

 

[rgulrich]

A few good refs from scholar.google.com (A good research source for peer-reviewed and such articles):

http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/62/3/571
(Shelton, 1974)

http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/65/2/381
(Anderson, 1976)

I hope this helps pique your curiosity.
Dont' be bashful about trying to sign up for some of these research sites - some of them offer free subscriptions, and others can be accessed through your school or university.

Cheers,
Ray