Hermatypic corals of Japan

Abstract

Original studies, together with a review of past studies, are combined in a species-level account of all known Japanese hermatypic corals. Original studies were made at 98 collecting stations. Previous studies from Japanese localities are reviewed and locality records (of both past and present studies), taxonomic data, and in situ appearance are recorded. The major oceanographic control od distribution and abundance of species, the Kuroshio Current, is discussed in light of detailed data on sea surface temperature and available data on circulation patterns. Distribution changes during the Holocene and recent, including human- and Acanthaster planci-related effects, are discussed. -from Author