Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Is Coral Community Structure Linked To Damage Susceptibility? A Case Study From South Africa, Bernhard Riegl, Peter A. Cook

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

Africa's southernmost coral communities are situated in northern Natal, South Africa (27°50' S), within the Maputaland and St. Lucia Marine Reserves. Growing concern about the possible impact of recreational acti vities on the health of the coral ecosystem prompted the present study on the structure and health of the reefs. Coral community studies by means of line transects identified three basic coral community types, which correlated with the geomorphology of the sandstone outcrops on which corals grew. 1) Fossil dunes were dominated by alcyonacea in depths between 8 and 24 m. 2) Flat outcrops between 18 and 24 m depth …