Relative roles of biological and physical processes influencing coral recruitment during the lag phase of reef community recovery.

ABSTRACT: Following disturbances, corals recolonize space through the process of recruitment consisting of the three phases of propagule supply, settlement, and post-settlement survival. Yet, each phase is influenced by biophysical factors, leading to recruitment success variability through space. To resolve the relative contributions of biophysical factors on coral recruitment, the recovery of a 150 km long coral reefs in Palau was investigated after severe typhoon disturbances. Overall, we found that benthic organisms had a relatively weak interactive influence on larval settlement rates at the scale of individual tiles, with negative effects mainly exerted from high wave exposure for Acropora corals. In contrast, juvenile coral densities were well predicted by biophysical drivers, through both di

SUBMITTER: Gouezo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7015914 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature