Hurricanes Cause Population Expansion of the Branching Coral Acropora palmata (Scleractinia): Wound Healing and Growth Patterns of Asexual Recruits

P. Fong, D. Lirman

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mechanisms aiding recovery and expansion of Acropora palmata on a patch reef directly in the path of Hurricane Andrew were documented. Wound healing was initially rapid but slowed with time. Nine months after the storm, 72% hurricane-generated fragments of A. palmata had cemented to the bottom, becoming new asexual recruits. Recruits showed complex patterns of branch formation, including rapid growth of solitary proto-branches, differential growth of proto-branches dependent on recruit orientation, and dominance within aggregates of proto-branches. -from Authors

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)317-335
Number of pages19
JournalMarine Ecology
Volume16
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1995

Keywords

  • Coral
  • Florida Keys
  • disturbance
  • hurricanes
  • populations
  • recruitment
  • reefs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Aquatic Science
  • Ecology

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