polyps wrap around the coral branches and extend when feeding to provide Oculina with essential nutrients from various forms of plankton and algae.

Symbiotic Oculina colonies with zooxanthellae generally come in various shades of brown, while azooxanthellate corals tend to have a lighter, whiter appearance.

Although O. varicosa is not considered a reef-building coral, it still serves an important role in creating larval habitat for native fish and invertebrates.

Oculina provides a base for hard-bottom communities in supporting valuable fisheries species and a variety of other economically important organisms.

The known and documented threat in the Oculina Banks area is damage from mechanical fishing gear, including dredges, bottom long lines, trawl nets and anchors despite supposed habitat-based protections.

Temperate corals, such as Oculina arbuscula and Astrangia poculata, show relatively high tolerance to ocean warming because of these large seasonal shifts.

[5] Because the genus Oculina is considered one of the more resilient corals on the spectrum, it functions as a useful experimental subject, especially in the context of global climate change.

[8] Researching the effects of temperature stress on O. varicosa furthers understanding of how both this species and the hard bottom communities it helps form, will change under warmer oceans.