Vytopil, E., and Willis, B.L. (2001) Epifaunal community structure in Acropora spp. (Scleractinia) on the Great Barrier Reef: implications of coral morphology and habitat complexity. Coral Reefs, 20 (3). pp. 281-288.

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Abstract

The role of microhabitat in structuring epifaunal communities on four corals of varying morphology in the genus Acropora (A. millepora, A. hyacinthus, A. pulchra, A. formosa) was determined on two fringing reefs in the central Great Barrier Reef. Greater abundance and species richness of epifauna on tightly branched coral species in comparison to their rarity or absence on open-branched species suggests that protection afforded by complex habitats is important in structuring coral epifaunal communities. Within species, neither total colony space nor live surface area of corals was correlated with either the abundance or species richness of associated epifauna. However, space between branches significantly affected the size of Tetralia crabs associated with different coral species. Patterns in the size distribution of Tetralia on two species of Acropora suggest that crabs select coral hosts according to branch spacing, changing host species as they grow larger.

Item ID:	13163
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1432-0975
Keywords:	Acropora sp; coral morphology; epifauna; microhabitat; Tetralia
Date Deposited:	28 Jun 2012 03:10
FoR Codes:	06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960802 Coastal and Estuarine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
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