Among symbiotic associations, cases of pseudo-auto-epizoism, in which a species uses a resembling but not directly related species as substrate, are poorly documented in coral reef ecosystems. In the present study, we assessed the distribution of an association between the hydrocorals Stylaster roseus and Millepora alcicornis on about 50% of coral reef sites studied in Bonaire, southern Caribbean. Although previously thought to be uncommon, associations between the lace coral S. roseus and the fire coral M. alcicornis were observed at both the windward and leeward sides of Bonaire, mainly between 15 and 25 m depth, reaching a maximum occupation of 47 S. roseus colonies on a single M. alcicornis colony. Both species’ tissues did not show any signs of injuries, while an in-depth inspection of the contact points of their skeletons revealed that both partners can partially overgrow each other. How it is possible that S. roseus is able to settle on the stinging tissue of Millepora as well as how, by contrast, the latter may facilitate the lace coral by offering a certain degree of protection are questions that deserve further investigations.

中文翻译：

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在南加勒比海博内尔岛发生了水生珊瑚玫瑰（Royalcorals stylaster roseus）和千足莲（Millepora alcicornis）之间鲜为人知的关联

在共生关联中，珊瑚自然生态系统中很少记录到伪自流行现象，其中一个物种使用相似但不直接相关的物种作为底物。在本研究中，我们评估了hydrocorals之间的关联的分布Stylaster长春花和Millepora alcicornis在博内尔研究珊瑚礁遗址，加勒比海南部的约50％。尽管以前认为是罕见的，但在博内尔岛的上风侧和背风侧都观察到了蕾丝珊瑚玫瑰蔷薇和火珊瑚珊瑚角蔷薇之间的联系，主要在15至25 m的深度之间，最大占领量为47S 。单个M. alcicornis上的玫瑰菌落殖民地。两种物种的组织均未显示任何损伤迹象，而深入检查其骨骼的接触点后发现，双方可能彼此部分过度生长。玫瑰链霉菌如何能够沉积在Millepora的刺痛组织上，相反，后者如何通过提供一定程度的保护来促进蕾丝珊瑚，这是值得进一步研究的问题。