Structure of Africa's Southernmost Coral Communities

Authors

Bernhard Riegl, University of Cape Town - South AfricaFollow
Michael H. Schleyer, Oceanographic Research Institute - South Africa
P. J. Cook, University of Cape Town - South Africa
G. M. Branch, University of Cape Town - South Africa

ORCID

0000-0002-6003-9324

ResearcherID

F-8807-2011

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Bulletin of Marine Science

ISSN

0007-4977

Publication Date

3-1995

Abstract

The structure of Africa's southernmost coral communities, which grow on submerged fossil dune and beachrock systems and do not form true coral reefs, was quantitatively investigated by means of line transects and phototransects. None of the typical geomorphological reef-zones such as lagoons, reef crests or reef slopes were developed. A uniform community structure, differentiated only into two major community-types with three subcommunities, was found, Shallow reefs were dominated by alcyonaceans and differed from scleractinian dominated deep reefs. A high proportion of alcyonaceans was found in shallow communities (40–60%). Subcommunities, which were found on most reefs, were an alcyonacean dominated "reef-top" community in areas of low sedimentation, dominated by the genera Sinularia and Lobophytum, and a scleractinian dominated "gully" community (predominantly Montipora and Faviidae), in areas of high sedimentation. A deep sponge-dominated subcommunity existed on the deepest outcrops. The lower limit for most coral growth was between 35 and 40 m.

Volume

56

Issue

2

First Page

676

Last Page

691

NSUWorks Citation

Bernhard Riegl, Michael H. Schleyer, P. J. Cook, and G. M. Branch. 1995. Structure of Africa's Southernmost Coral Communities .Bulletin of Marine Science , (2) : 676 -691. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/342.