Intrinsic constraints on budding in the deep-sea coral Dendrophyllia cf. horsti from the Red Sea

Abstract

Colonial corals display diverse growth forms shaped by both environmental conditions and intrinsic developmental mechanisms. Understanding these internal morphogenetic rules is critical for accurately modeling coral colony formation. In this study, we investigated the intrinsic budding patterns of Dendrophyllia cf. horsti , an azooxanthellate deep-sea coral from the Red Sea. Using detailed morphological analyses of colony architecture, we identified consistent intrinsic constraints that govern colony development. Lateral corallites bud at a consistent angle (mean 15.9°) relative to the growth axis, and the orientation of the directive septa in daughter corallites remains stable across generations (mean 19.8°). Budding was consistently restricted to two specific sites per internode located near the lateral primary septa. In most colonies, budding occurred on the same side at successive internodes, although occasional observations suggested variation in the relative position of budding sites. These findings suggest that even in deep-sea, non-photosynthetic species, colony morphology is strongly regulated by intrinsic developmental constraints, as previously demonstrated in congeneric species. The results contribute valuable data for simulating coral growth and highlight the importance of intrinsic constraints in shaping colonial forms across Scleractinia.

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