PRESENCIA DE TUBOS CALCÁREOS BIOGÉNICOS EN LA ESTRUCTURA DEL CORAL MADRACIS MYRIASTER (SCLERACTINIA: POCILLOPORIDAE) DE AGUAS PROFUNDAS EN EL CARIBE COLOMBIANO

A large number of branches from the scleractinian coral Madracis myriaster, collected in deep waters of the Colombian Caribbean, showed both inside and around the skeleton calcareous structures constructed by tubiculous organisms. Here, based on the growth strategy of the coral and the physical conditions of deep-water areas, we describe the functional effect of the tube structures on deep coral frameworks formation and growth.