Influence of dead coral substrate morphology on patterns of juvenile coral distribution |
| |
Authors: | A V Norström J Lokrantz M Nyström H T Yap |
| |
Institution: | (1) Natural Resource Management, Department of Systems Ecology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;(2) Centre for Transdisciplinary Environmental Research, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;(3) The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines |
| |
Abstract: | This study examines the abundances of three morphological categories of juvenile corals (massive, branching and encrusting)
on two different types of natural substratum, dead massive and dead branching corals. The overall results show that the morphological
characteristics of dead coral substratum have a significant influence on the coral recruitment patterns with respect to the
morphology of the recruits: juvenile corals of massive and branching types were more abundant on substrates of corresponding
morphology. The results obtained from this study suggest that dead coral might attract coral larvae that are morphologically
similar. On the other hand, it may be the result of post-settlement mortality. Whatever the mechanism shaping the patterns
is, it seems that the physical morphology of the dead coral substrate has a significant influence on the coral recruit assemblage.
Hence, we suggest that substrate morphology can be an important qualitative factor for coral settlement and a possible determinant
of community structure. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|