Contrasting coral community structures between natural and artificial substrates at Koh Tao, Gulf of Thailand.
Mar Environ Res
; 172: 105505, 2021 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34717128
ABSTRACT
Concrete cubic frames and decommissioned steel naval vessels have been deployed in Thailand liberally to act as artificial substrates for coral restoration and marine recreation. We assessed recruitment at such substrate types at Koh Tao, Gulf of Thailand, and compared the community structure of scleractinian corals between artificial substrates and nearby natural reefs. Our results from a sample of 2677 recruits from nine sites highlighted significant differences in community structure between both reef types. Investigations of variables including time since deployment, distance from the natural reef, and seafloor depth revealed only the latter as a possible influencing factor. The diversity of recruits could not be explained by dynamics in coral spawning, and were found to represent groups with lower structural complexity. Our results suggest that coral community structure on artificial and natural reefs differs and supports distinct ecological and functional roles.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Antozoários
Limite:
Animals
País/Região como assunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mar Environ Res
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
/
TOXICOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article