The Great Barrier Reef
216
Australia, and exhibit a number of different strategies in
the way they release their gametes; for example, gametes
may be negatively rather than positively buoyant in
some species. The genera Goniastrea and Leptastrea appear
to be among the most tolerant of all corals to heat stress
and exposure to silty conditions. On reef flats, Platygyra
and Goniastrea commonly develop into ‘microatolls’,
with living coral surface confined to the vertical sides of
the colony, surrounding a dead top, which sometimes
gets colonised by algae or other corals. This morphology
comes about when the top of the colony gets regularly
exposed to the air and/or sunlight on low tide.
BOX 20.2 FAMILIES AND GENERA OF SCLERACTINIA (HARD CORALS)
ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Families 1 to 6 are dominant in the ecology of the GBR. Genera and families in bold are
suggested as a first learning tool for the beginner. Genera in bold here are illustrated in
this chapter. Asterisked genera are azooxanthellate.
Table 20.1
(1) Family Acroporidae
Acropora
Isopora
Montipora
Astreopora
Anacropora
(2) Family Faviidae
Favia
Favites
Goniastrea
Platygyra
Montastrea
Leptastrea
Leptoria
Oulophyllia
Plesiastrea
Echinopora
Caulastrea
Cyphastrea
Diploastrea
Moseleya
Barabattoia
(3) Family Poritidae
Porites
Goniopora
Alveopora
(4) Family Pocilloporidae
Pocillopora
Stylophora
Seriatopora
(5) Family Fungiidae
Fungia
Cycloseris
Heliofungia
Ctenactis
Herpolitha
Halomitra
Podobacia
(6) Family Mussidae
Lobophyllia
Symphyllia
Acanthastrea
Micromussa
Blastomussa
Cynarina
Scolymia
(7) Family Astrocoeniidae
Stylocoeniella
Palauastrea
(8) Family Siderastreidae
Siderastrea
Psammocora
Coscinaria
(9) Family Agaricidae
Pavona
Leptoseris
Gardenoseris
Pachyseris
(10) Family Pectiniidae
Pectinia
Echinophyllia
Oxypora
Mycedium
(11) Family Euphyllidae
Euphyllia
Catalophyllia
Physogyra
Plerogyra
(12) Family Oculinidae
Galaxea
(13) F. Dendrophyllidae
Turbinaria
Duncanopsammia
Tubastrea
*Heteropsammia
(14) Family Merulinidae
Merulina
Hydnophora
Scapophyllia
(15) F. Trachyphyllidae
Trachyphyllia
(16) F. Caryophyllidae
*Heterocyathus
216
Australia, and exhibit a number of different strategies in
the way they release their gametes; for example, gametes
may be negatively rather than positively buoyant in
some species. The genera Goniastrea and Leptastrea appear
to be among the most tolerant of all corals to heat stress
and exposure to silty conditions. On reef flats, Platygyra
and Goniastrea commonly develop into ‘microatolls’,
with living coral surface confined to the vertical sides of
the colony, surrounding a dead top, which sometimes
gets colonised by algae or other corals. This morphology
comes about when the top of the colony gets regularly
exposed to the air and/or sunlight on low tide.
BOX 20.2 FAMILIES AND GENERA OF SCLERACTINIA (HARD CORALS)
ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Families 1 to 6 are dominant in the ecology of the GBR. Genera and families in bold are
suggested as a first learning tool for the beginner. Genera in bold here are illustrated in
this chapter. Asterisked genera are azooxanthellate.
Table 20.1
(1) Family Acroporidae
Acropora
Isopora
Montipora
Astreopora
Anacropora
(2) Family Faviidae
Favia
Favites
Goniastrea
Platygyra
Montastrea
Leptastrea
Leptoria
Oulophyllia
Plesiastrea
Echinopora
Caulastrea
Cyphastrea
Diploastrea
Moseleya
Barabattoia
(3) Family Poritidae
Porites
Goniopora
Alveopora
(4) Family Pocilloporidae
Pocillopora
Stylophora
Seriatopora
(5) Family Fungiidae
Fungia
Cycloseris
Heliofungia
Ctenactis
Herpolitha
Halomitra
Podobacia
(6) Family Mussidae
Lobophyllia
Symphyllia
Acanthastrea
Micromussa
Blastomussa
Cynarina
Scolymia
(7) Family Astrocoeniidae
Stylocoeniella
Palauastrea
(8) Family Siderastreidae
Siderastrea
Psammocora
Coscinaria
(9) Family Agaricidae
Pavona
Leptoseris
Gardenoseris
Pachyseris
(10) Family Pectiniidae
Pectinia
Echinophyllia
Oxypora
Mycedium
(11) Family Euphyllidae
Euphyllia
Catalophyllia
Physogyra
Plerogyra
(12) Family Oculinidae
Galaxea
(13) F. Dendrophyllidae
Turbinaria
Duncanopsammia
Tubastrea
*Heteropsammia
(14) Family Merulinidae
Merulina
Hydnophora
Scapophyllia
(15) F. Trachyphyllidae
Trachyphyllia
(16) F. Caryophyllidae
*Heterocyathus