My earliest introduction to Millepora spp.

 Professor Richard Randall had been disallowed from being an MSc thesis advisor by the big shots at the University of Guam Marine Laboratory, I think unfairly.  

Shortly after I had arrived on Guam to begin graduate studies in Early August of 1984,  Dick Randall made himself known to me by stopping to offer me a ride down the hill to the Laboratory, and introducing himself as a coral biologist (he is also a geologist).  Immediately he engaged me in discussion of ideas for a thesis topic. 

I explained that I was interested in reproductive periodicity in Tridacnid clams, particularly in endocrine control of gametogenesis.  Such a study would necessarily involve elucidating the phenology, the seasonality, indeed, every aspect of the timing of reproductive events.  This topic was a huge turn-on for me.   

 

  At that point he introduced me to Millepora spp., the fire corals.  He explained that the Calcium Carbonate hard parts of these corals bore outward evidence of reproductive status---the Ampullae that sheltered the medusae within them.  Thus, it seemed, it would be possible to study the reproductive periodicity by the most expedient of all possible methods: examination of hard parts over time.  

(Professor Lu Eldredge stood in his stead.  It is on me and me alone that I did not complete the thesis that was required to earn an MSc from UJ. of Guam.  Had there been a plan B, I would certainly have the MSc. degree today.  Dick Randall deserved to be treated with more respect, as I might add.

So it was I started collecting fragments of Millepora spp.   At that time, I took every opportunity to snorkel, and each time I did I collected at least one fragment of Millepora spp., usually M. platyphylla.  That first term, I was enrolled in a statistics class; I hoped I would be able to draw some conclusions using some statistical means or another on the timing of reproductive efforts.  I had learned from R. K. Trench at UCSB about Tridacnids.  and the interesting variations in the patterns of timing.  I had hoped to be able to study neurosecretory control of gametogenesis of the giant clams.  This interesting twist regarding the biology of Millepora would provide an opportunity to complete a study on the side, in my spare time, no sweat, while engaged in other pursuits.

Professor Randall kept a large plastic tank of Calcium Hypochlorite out on the lanai behind his lab/office, for cleaning corals.  I gradually built up a number of bleached coral specimens, but had not recognized ampullae.  Perhaps I would be able to find time later on to examine the coral skeletons and create a database.

Dick warned me about the work of Sydney Hickson, a prominent british zoologist of the late 19th Century---one of the big names.  Hickson had made the error of synonymizing all species of the genus Millepora as a single species, M. alcicornis, an Atlantic species found prominently in the Caribbean.  Boschma would, much later, correct the record in  a series of long papers on the specific characters, and revised the systematics of the genus.  

When I first laid eyes on the medusae of Millepora platyphylla, I was on the beach at Toguan Bay, Guam.  it was obvious to me that the illustrations by Hickson of the medusa of Millepora had also promulgated an egregious error; this illustration was widely disseminated, as part of a revised drawing of Moseley in most Invertebrate Textbooks.