Premium
Occurrence and Distribution of Stony Corals in the Gulf of Cariaco, Venezuela
Author(s) -
Antonius Arnfried
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
internationale revue der gesamten hydrobiologie und hydrographie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1522-2632
pISSN - 0020-9309
DOI - 10.1002/iroh.19800650302
Subject(s) - porites , coral , oceanography , scleractinia , hermatypic coral , littoral zone , geology , cnidaria
Occurrence and distribution of stony corals (Milleporina and Scleractinia) in the Gulf of Cariaco were investigated quantitatively using skin‐diving methods. Unusual temperature conditions due to cold upwelling limit coral growth to a depth of 15 m. A clear vertical zonation of species was observed, with five zones, in order of increasing depth, dominated by Porites porites, Millepora complanata, Siderastrea siderea, Dichocoenia stokesi , and Solenastrea hyades. Twenty‐one species of scleractinians and three species of hydrocorals have so far been found in the gulf. Of the total area covered by corals, over 50% is inhabited by Siderastrea siderea, Millepora spp., and Porites porites. A horizontal zonation of the littoral was established based on species composition and density of the coral cover.