Coral Reef Degradation In The Indian Ocean: Status Report 2005

Coral settlement patterns were measured at two sites in the Mombasa Marine National Park for a 2-year period from May 2001 to February 2003. Artificial settlement tiles were deployed for approximately 3-month periods and were collected in Febru - ary, May, August and November of each year. The mean number of coral spat settled on collected tiles varied from 0.75 (± 0.79 s.d.) per tile in August 2001 to a maximum of 16.70 (± 7.53 s.d.) in November 2002, corresponding to mean densities of 8–740 m –2 . The maximum number of spat recorded on a single tile was 38 (November 2002). Although peak settlement rates were recorded in November of each year, settlement was sufficiently variable between months and years to obscure a clear seasonal cycle. Settle - ment was highest at the study site with the best water flow and exchange with the open ocean. Pocilloporids ( Pocillopora spp.) dominated settlement (76%), followed by poritids (19%), then ‘others’. Patterns suggest peak coral recruitment in September– November each year when water temperatures are increasing the fastest prior to reaching their seasonal maxima in March–April, but with substantial recruitment of pocilloporids and poritids throughout the year. Published