Patterns and processes of coral recruitment in some northern Philippine reefs

Part 1 of the study describes the result of the recruitment study designed to study larval availability. Larval settlement on terracotba tiles (10 x 10 x 12 cm) were used to discern spatio-temporal variability of scleractinian coral recruitment at Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. Monitoring was done every two months for a period of 12 months. The peak of recruitment occurred during the summer months of April and May (average number of recruits per tile 6-7 individuals, compared to 1 individual per tile in the other sampling periods). The highest number of recruits were found in an area (First Plateau) characterized by the formation of gyres and eddies which favors retention of larvae. Part 2 which is a study of recruitment on the reefs in Bolinao, Pangasinan [Philippines] and Puerto Galera shows clear spatial patterns of coral recruitment. The patterns of recruitment are influenced predominantly by the position of the sites on the reef and other post-settlement processes. Sites with relatively longer water residency time especially during the reproductive season received more recruits compared to exposed areas of the reef. This provide some indications of the linkage between pre-settlement processes from larval recruitment, and succeeding post-settlement mortality which eventually give rise to the resultant coral community. Part 3 describes the effect of the soft coral Xenia puertogalerae on the recruitment of Scleractinian corals. Inhibition by X. puertogalerae was evident. Plates established near soft coral colonies had fewer recruits or absent in contrast to tiles without the soft coral. This effect is selective because Acroporids were able to settle with the presence of Xenia. This selectivity in allowing recruitment implies an important role of the X. puertogalerae in succession and community structure. It would affect community structure by favoring the establishment of species but effectively deters settlement of other corals species in the area