Skeletal growth and density patterns of two Porites corals from the Gulf of Eilat, Red Sea

Abstract

Corals sampled from the same area showed marked variations in their linear growth rate. Average growth rates were 7.48 ± 1.78 mm yr-1 for P. lobata and 5.68 ± 1.52 mm yr-1 for P. columnaris. High density deposition bands occur during winter (December-May; low light intensity and seawater temperature), and low density deposition bands during summer (June-November; high light intensity and seawater temperature). In the Red Sea, water temperature and light intensity are the major factors controlling the identity of band formation in Porites corals, while reproduction is probably of lesser importance. -from Authors