Colony size-frequency distributions among different populations of the scleractinan coral Siderastrea stellata in Southwestern Atlantic: implications for life history patterns
Colony size-frequency distributions of reef corals may be used to infer growth potential and population responses upon environmental changes. The present paper compares the size structure of colonies of Siderastrea stellata Verrill, 1868,among 11 sites, six of them distributed along a gradient of sediment deposition in Abrolhos, Bahia, Brazil (18º S). Results indicated that the population structure is likely to be influenced by local conditions, rather than large scale factors, such as latitude. The 11 distributions, however, showed higher frequencies of small size classes. Class 1 (up to 2.5 cm diameter) was always present and the frequency of colonies from size class 3 (10 cm diameter) tended to decrease in all sites. Comparison among the six Abrolhos sites showed that S. stellata has advantages at sites with intermediate sedimentation, where colonies attain larger sizes, probably, reflecting a higher survivorship over time. The present study showed that, despite the influence of environmental conditions on parameters of the populations such as size of colony, the life history strategy of S. stellata reflects a local adaptation that allows its development and survivorship in shallow waters and horizontal substrates, sites characterized by high mortality rates.
Main Authors: | Barros,Monica Moraes Lins de, Pires,Débora de Oliveira |
---|---|
Format: | Digital revista |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico
2006
|
Online Access: | http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-87592006000300005 |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Similar Items
-
Comparison of the reproductive status of the scleractinian coral Siderastrea stellata throughout a gradient of 20º of latitude
by: Lins-de-Barros,Monica, et al.
Published: (2007) -
Severe coral bleaching of Siderastrea stellata at the only atoll in the South Atlantic driven by sequential Marine Heatwaves
by: Gaspar,Tainá L., et al.
Published: (2021) -
Histopatological effects of bleaching and disease on the coral Siderastrea stellata from coastal reefs of Brazil
by: Sassi,Cristiane F. Costa, et al.
Published: (2021) -
Population dynamics of Siderastrea stellata Verrill, 1868 from Rocas Atoll, RN: implications for predicted climate change impacts at the only South Atlantic atoll
by: PINHEIRO,BARBARA R., et al.
Published: (2017) -
Growth pattern of Couratari stellata in a Tropical Rain Forest in the Southwestern Amazon.
by: GASPAR, C., et al.
Published: (2019-11-27)