Authors
Adriana Humanes, ACrolina Bastidas
Publication date
2015/11/12
Journal
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Volume
539
Pages
139-151
Description
Coral settlement and early survivorship play an important role in reef resilience. In this study, we investigated the temporal and spatial variation of coral settlement and post-settlement survivorship in different reefs with high and low coral cover in Los Roques Archipelago, Venezuela. In situ estimations of settlement and post-settlement survivorship were compared between months of expected gamete release for broadcasters, and months when larval supply was expected mainly from brooders. Terracotta tiles were deployed at reefs with high (> 50%) or low (< 15%) hard coral cover, and recruit survivorship was evaluated during their first 4 mo of age by monthly examination of the tiles. Overall, mean (±SD) settlement rates varied between 30±46 and 236±143 ind. m-2 mo-1. At particular reefs and times, settlement rates were up to 7 times higher than previously reported for the Caribbean region. Settlement rates …
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