A Lithophyllon dominated coral community at Hoi ha Wan, Hong Kong

Abstract

In Hoi Ha Wan, Hong Kong, an attached fungiid coral Lithophyllon cf. edwardsi , which is normally encountered as a rare or occasional coral species growing in crevices, spreads over the rocky substrate occupying 38% of the coral cover (29% of the total area) with 33 other coral species present. It was found that the greatest number of colonies, the greatest area, and the largest colonies favoured the horizontal growing position, and L. cf. edwardsi is able to overgrow all the other corals encountered without aggression or signs of "digestive dominance". The reasons for this phenomenon are discussed.