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Patterns in benthic coral reef communities at Pearl and Hermes Atoll along a wave exposure gradient

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  • This study compares percent cover of benthic organisms at the species level at Pearl and Hermes Atoll (PHA), the largest atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, in order to determine 1) the degree of difference among sites, 2) whether wave exposure zones explain observed patterns in benthic community structure, and 3) whether species richness differs among wave exposure zones. Thirty-four sites representing four categorical wave exposure regimes were surveyed: high, intermediate-high, intermediate-low, and low. A two-way nested ANOSIM found there to be significant differences among sites and found that wave exposure explained some, but not all of this variation. High and low wave exposure zones were found to differ significantly from other zones. Low wave exposure sites exhibited the highest similarity to each other, and were dominated by the finger coral, Porites compressa (38% cover). High wave exposure sites were also similar to each other, and were dominated by crustose coralline red algae (37% cover). Sites within the intermediate-high zone exhibited substantial variability; however, the presence of the green alga Microdictyon setchellianum was a unifying characteristic among many sites in this zone. Finally, intermediate-low wave exposure sites exhibited the greatest degree of variability among sites, and also exhibited the greatest level of benthic species diversity including the presence of rarer species. Wave exposure proved a useful tool in describing the diverse assemblages of benthic communities at PHA, especially for sites experiencing extreme high and low wave exposure.
  • This is the publisher's early view pdf. The published article is copyrighted by University Of Hawai'i Press and can be found at: http://www.uhpress.hawaii.edu/.
  • Keywords: Water motion, Coastal regions, Algae, Disturbance, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Photosynthesis, Fish assemblages, Model, Species diversity
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  • Page-Albins, K., Vroom, P., Hoeke, R., Albins, M., & Smith, C. (2012). Patterns in benthic coral reef communities at pearl and hermes atoll along a wave-exposure gradient. Pacific Science, 66(4), 481-496. doi: 10.2984/66.4.6
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  • 66
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  • 4
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