Coral Communities: Composition and Formation
255
coral communities in the surf zones of reefs, on outer slopes and in the zone
of lagoonal patch reefs. On the submerged reef platforms and on shallows of
fringing and barrier reefs large colonies of Porites form micro-atolls (Rosen
1978). Another common genus of this family, Goniopora, forms massive
round colonies with large far-expanding polyps. This coral is opportunistic,
the same as many species of Porties and inhabits shallow areas, patch reefs
and exposed zones of reef flats.
Family Faviidae is the fourth in importance among reef coral communities.
Several genera of faviids inhabit reefs of all three oceans. It includes about
150 nominal species and over 15 genera. The most common of them are the
genera Favites, Goniastrea, Montastrea, Cyphastrea, Platygyra, Leptastrea
and Echinopora. Most of these genera form massive round colonies with
medium-sized or large polyps. Some of them (Cyphastrea, Leptastrea) may
form flat crustose ecomorphs when living in a surf zone or in deep poorly
illuminated areas of reef. Most often faviids could be found in shallows of
submerged flats and in lagoonal patch-reef zones. Montastrea is not a key
species in the surf zone and on the reef slopes of many Atlantic reefs.
Family Siderastridae is most widespread on reefs of the Western Atlantic,
where it is represented by one genus (Siderastrea) and four real species. One
of them, Siderastrea radians, is the single scleractinian species inhabiting
both Atlantic and Indo-Pacific reefs. In the Atlantic, Siderastrea is an
important coral on reef slopes (Goreau and Goreau 1973). On reefs of the
Indo-Pacific besides S. radians another coral of this family, Coscinarea
columna, is common. Its columnal colonies could be often found at reef
slopes and on lagoonal patch reefs.
Family Agaricidae is represented on reefs of the Indo-Pacific by three
genera: Pavona, Leptoseris and Pashyseris, which are very distinctive in the
appearance of their colonies and their ecological features. All three of them
playa key role in different reef biotopes. Pavona and especially P. cactus is
one of the most common elements of coral fauna in surf zones, in zones of
submerged flats, in lagoonal shallows and on patch reefs. It easily survives
wave-stress, high turbidity, heating and siltation. The genus Leptoseris is
common in the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic regions, being represented there by
different species. In the Indo-Pacific, Leptoseris is represented by 14 species
which inhabit mostly deep parts of outer reef slopes down to the lower
boundary of distribution of hermatypic scleractinians, at depths of 60-90m
(Kiihlmann 1983). Some of the species of Leptoseris could be found only
deeper than 20 m. The same features are peculiar to another genus
Pashyseris; which is common in coral communities of deep reef slope
biotopes (Fricke and Schuhmacher 1983). Both these genera of
scleractinians have special morpho-physiological adaptations to low
illumination (d. Sect. 8.4). In the Atlantic, this family is represented by
255
coral communities in the surf zones of reefs, on outer slopes and in the zone
of lagoonal patch reefs. On the submerged reef platforms and on shallows of
fringing and barrier reefs large colonies of Porites form micro-atolls (Rosen
1978). Another common genus of this family, Goniopora, forms massive
round colonies with large far-expanding polyps. This coral is opportunistic,
the same as many species of Porties and inhabits shallow areas, patch reefs
and exposed zones of reef flats.
Family Faviidae is the fourth in importance among reef coral communities.
Several genera of faviids inhabit reefs of all three oceans. It includes about
150 nominal species and over 15 genera. The most common of them are the
genera Favites, Goniastrea, Montastrea, Cyphastrea, Platygyra, Leptastrea
and Echinopora. Most of these genera form massive round colonies with
medium-sized or large polyps. Some of them (Cyphastrea, Leptastrea) may
form flat crustose ecomorphs when living in a surf zone or in deep poorly
illuminated areas of reef. Most often faviids could be found in shallows of
submerged flats and in lagoonal patch-reef zones. Montastrea is not a key
species in the surf zone and on the reef slopes of many Atlantic reefs.
Family Siderastridae is most widespread on reefs of the Western Atlantic,
where it is represented by one genus (Siderastrea) and four real species. One
of them, Siderastrea radians, is the single scleractinian species inhabiting
both Atlantic and Indo-Pacific reefs. In the Atlantic, Siderastrea is an
important coral on reef slopes (Goreau and Goreau 1973). On reefs of the
Indo-Pacific besides S. radians another coral of this family, Coscinarea
columna, is common. Its columnal colonies could be often found at reef
slopes and on lagoonal patch reefs.
Family Agaricidae is represented on reefs of the Indo-Pacific by three
genera: Pavona, Leptoseris and Pashyseris, which are very distinctive in the
appearance of their colonies and their ecological features. All three of them
playa key role in different reef biotopes. Pavona and especially P. cactus is
one of the most common elements of coral fauna in surf zones, in zones of
submerged flats, in lagoonal shallows and on patch reefs. It easily survives
wave-stress, high turbidity, heating and siltation. The genus Leptoseris is
common in the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic regions, being represented there by
different species. In the Indo-Pacific, Leptoseris is represented by 14 species
which inhabit mostly deep parts of outer reef slopes down to the lower
boundary of distribution of hermatypic scleractinians, at depths of 60-90m
(Kiihlmann 1983). Some of the species of Leptoseris could be found only
deeper than 20 m. The same features are peculiar to another genus
Pashyseris; which is common in coral communities of deep reef slope
biotopes (Fricke and Schuhmacher 1983). Both these genera of
scleractinians have special morpho-physiological adaptations to low
illumination (d. Sect. 8.4). In the Atlantic, this family is represented by