Communities Structure of Reef Corals
271
1
ACHOPORA
7
ACROPOHA
PORITES
L..
Fig. 7.12. Distribution of basic ecomorphs of some opportunistic corals on reefs off
Solomon I. depending upon the level of hydrodynamic stress: 1 leeward zones, protected
from wave action; 2 zones of moderate wave stress in lagoon, on reef flat and in the
buttress zone on outer reef slope; 3 zones of moderate to strong wave stress of windward
submerged reef-flat platforms; 4 zones of maximum wave stress on the exposed windward
reef flat. (After Morton 1974)
the key species on reefs of the Indo-Pacific there are corals from the genera
Pocillopora, Millepora, and the common acroporids A. hyacinth us , A.
cuneata, A. humilis, A. digitifera, A. leptocyathus, A. hebes, A. formosa,
and A. palifera (Done 1983). On reefs of the west Atlantic such
opportunistic, dominant corals are Acropora cervicornis, A. palmata, A.
prolifera, and Millepora alcicornis (Kiihlmann 1975; Glynn 1976; Done
1983; Bright et al. 1984). Among the leading species in shallow surf zones
there are also several massive and incrusting corals well opposing wave
stress. On the Indo-Pacific reefs they are represented by Porites sp., faviids
(genera Favia, Goniastrea) , the corals Galaxea, Pavona, Psammocora, and
Platygyra. On reefs of the Atlantic these are: Diploria, Montastrea
annularis, and Porites asteroides. Some of the leading species in shallow surf
zones and on exposed flats, such as Stylophora mamillata, Echinopora
gemmaceae, A. variabile, and A. pulchra cannot withstand well the surf but
are adapted to surviving periodical exposure - up to 60 h in total per month
with each period of lengths between 1 to 4 h (Ditlev 1978). An especially
enduring coral among them seems to be Acropora puchra, which often lives
on reef flat biotopes exposed during low ebbs. It endures complete exposure
for 2-4h and does not die subjected to sun and rain (Fig. 7.13). The corals
Pocillopora and Montipora endure well also siltation, high water
temperature, and drops and rises in salinity (Loya 1972; Smith and Jokiel
271
1
ACHOPORA
7
ACROPOHA
PORITES
L..
Fig. 7.12. Distribution of basic ecomorphs of some opportunistic corals on reefs off
Solomon I. depending upon the level of hydrodynamic stress: 1 leeward zones, protected
from wave action; 2 zones of moderate wave stress in lagoon, on reef flat and in the
buttress zone on outer reef slope; 3 zones of moderate to strong wave stress of windward
submerged reef-flat platforms; 4 zones of maximum wave stress on the exposed windward
reef flat. (After Morton 1974)
the key species on reefs of the Indo-Pacific there are corals from the genera
Pocillopora, Millepora, and the common acroporids A. hyacinth us , A.
cuneata, A. humilis, A. digitifera, A. leptocyathus, A. hebes, A. formosa,
and A. palifera (Done 1983). On reefs of the west Atlantic such
opportunistic, dominant corals are Acropora cervicornis, A. palmata, A.
prolifera, and Millepora alcicornis (Kiihlmann 1975; Glynn 1976; Done
1983; Bright et al. 1984). Among the leading species in shallow surf zones
there are also several massive and incrusting corals well opposing wave
stress. On the Indo-Pacific reefs they are represented by Porites sp., faviids
(genera Favia, Goniastrea) , the corals Galaxea, Pavona, Psammocora, and
Platygyra. On reefs of the Atlantic these are: Diploria, Montastrea
annularis, and Porites asteroides. Some of the leading species in shallow surf
zones and on exposed flats, such as Stylophora mamillata, Echinopora
gemmaceae, A. variabile, and A. pulchra cannot withstand well the surf but
are adapted to surviving periodical exposure - up to 60 h in total per month
with each period of lengths between 1 to 4 h (Ditlev 1978). An especially
enduring coral among them seems to be Acropora puchra, which often lives
on reef flat biotopes exposed during low ebbs. It endures complete exposure
for 2-4h and does not die subjected to sun and rain (Fig. 7.13). The corals
Pocillopora and Montipora endure well also siltation, high water
temperature, and drops and rises in salinity (Loya 1972; Smith and Jokiel