Abstract

CORADO-NAVA, Norma A.; RODRIGUEZ, Dení  and  RIVAS, Gerardo. Algal turfs colonization effect on Pocillopora capitata (Anthozoa: Scleractinia) growth at Mexican tropical Pacific. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2014, vol.85, n.4, pp.1086-1092. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.7550/rmb.43323.

The disturbances on coral reefs increase the competition for space between organisms. This study evaluated the effect of algal turfs on the growth and survival of the coral Pocillopora capitata. The experimental work was to unite dead branches -colonized by algae- and live with live coral branches in 2 types of adhesion -lateral and apical-, in 2 seasons -rainy and dry- in the Mexican tropical Pacific. The information was obtained through comparative pictures between the start and end of the experiment for each season. The results show that the coral branches growth did not change significantly despite the manipulation, the injuries -apical cut and adhesion- and by contact with algal turfs, survival values obtained for the branches of coral between 65 and 100%. Thus, the results presented here, and the results of other studies have found some qualities of P. capitata as rapid growth, ability and to manipulation resistance, also the turf algae overgrow resistance, and in addition their membership to a family used in the recovery of reefs make to this species useful in restoration projects, in degraded coral communities of the Mexican tropical Pacific.

Keywords : coral-algal competition; algal; branching corals; ecological interactions.