Images

Ile Anglais ocean side Acropora tables 5-10m


Description
The population structure of corals on a healthy reef will include individuals of every possible size up to their maximum. Young or small ones are a key component because, obviously, they are the potential reef builders of the future. To find large numbers of young ones is a key indicator of reproduction and this is especially important in areas which in the recent past suffered widespread mortality, as was the case over much of the Indian Ocean. This scene shows numerous juvenile table corals of the genus Acropora along with many other species, and with much encrusting red algae too. If these remain they will form the main framework of the reef in a few years time.
Subject
coral-hard
Subject
biological_organisms
Contact
Anne Sheppard
Contact email
a.sheppard@hotmail.com
Authors