GROWTH RATES OF THREE REEF-BUILDING CORAL SPECIES IN THE NORTHERN RED SEA, EGYPT

Abstract

G rowth rates as linear extensions were measured for three species of reef-building corals in four different seasons and at three different depths (5m, 15m, and 30m) in Na'ama Bay, south of Sinai, northern Red Sea, Egypt. Alizarine-RedS stain was used as skeletal marker to stain the colonies alive in-situ. Comparison with similar studies elsewhere in the tropical regions shows consistency in growth patterns of the studied species regardless of depth and season, while they were different than others. The estimated annual rates of linear growth for the three corals considered at the different depths (5m, 15m, and 30m) were 9,24, 7.48, and 6.51mm/y for S. pistillata; 6.34, 9.24, and 5.90mm/y for A. granulosa; and 7.40 and 6.6mm/y for P. damicornis, respectively; P. damicornis was not found at 30m depth.