Community structure, succession and development of coral reefs in Hawaii

Abstract

Reef building corals in the Hawaiian Archipelago consist of only 42 species belonging to 16 genera. The Hawaiian coral fauna is highly depauperate relative to the Indo-West Pacific Ocean, likely due to geographic isolation. The species composition of reef building corals is remarkably uniform throughout the archipelago. Differences in species composition which do exist appear to be caused by varying patterns of disturbance and recruitment. Although patchy distributional patterns exist within islands, the differences in species composition between islands are small. Contrary to most terrestrial ecosystems a positive correlation does not exist between species richness and habitat complexity within the zone for reef building corals and high rates of recruitment between islands, and that most reef building corals in Hawaii are generalized species. Significant differences between coral reefs found on different islands, are differences in community structure.