Some environmental and biological determinants of coral richness, resilience and reef building in Galapagos (Ecuador).

ABSTRACT: Throughout the Galápagos, differences in coral reef development and coral population dynamics were evaluated by monitoring populations from 2000-2019, and environmental parameters (sea temperatures, pH, NO₃^-, PO₄^3-) from 2015-19. The chief goal was to explain apparent coral community differences between the northern (Darwin and Wolf) and southern (Sta. Cruz, Fernandina, San Cristóbal, Española, Isabela) islands. Site coral species richness was highest at Darwin and Wolf. In the three most common coral taxa, a declining North (N)-South (S) trend in colony sizes existed for Porites lobata and Pocillopora spp., but not for Pavona  spp. Frequent coral recruitment was observed in all areas. Algal competition was highest at Darwin, but competition by b

SUBMITTER: Riegl B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6635370 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature