Short CommunicationEstimation of size at first maturity in two South African coral species

The corals Acropora austera and Platygyra daedalea have been the subject of extensive reproductive and population genetic studies in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (iSimangaliso), on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, eastern South Africa. Despite this, estimates of size at first maturity in these two species are lacking. This information could be used to provide a baseline to differentiate juveniles from adult sizes of corals, an important factor for assessing the condition of scleractinian communities in reefs. Here, we present the methods followed to provide such estimates for these two hard corals. Using generalised linear models and assuming knife-edge maturity (50% probability), it was estimated that A. austera from iSimangaliso matures at c. 15 cm mean colony diameter (MCD) (95% CI: 9.25–20.75 cm MCD) and P. daedalea matures at c. 7 cm MCD (95% CI: 4.55–8.39 cm MCD). These estimates were comparable to those for tropical species which is remarkable considering the high-latitude nature of the sampled reefs. It is expected that the findings from this study will assist in the assessment of reproduction, recruitment, survival and genetic variation in clonal organisms such as corals, and will provide a baseline to assess the effects of climate change on coral communities in the region.Keywords: coral demographics, high-latitude reefs, maturity stage, reproductive size, Two-mile Reef, Western Indian OceanAfrican Journal of Marine Science 2014, 36(4): 513–51

A benthic survey of the rocky reefs off Pondoland, South Africa

A subtidal marine biodiversity survey was carried out on shallow reefs (–1m to –30m) in the proclaimed Pondoland Marine Protected Area between Port Edward and Port St Johns, South Africa. A total of 26 benthic reef transects was undertaken involving the capture and processing of 1 042 photographic images of the reef benthos. Results of the benthic survey showed a shift from algal-dominated reefs in the north to suspensionfeeder-dominated reefs in the south, probably on account of turbidity (reduced sunlight penetration) and high nutrient levels from riverine input. A similar shift was found with increasing reef depth with algae dominating shallower reefs and suspension-feeding communities dominating deeper reefs. Non-exhaustive inventories were compiled of dominant organisms, including algae, sponges, other invertebrates and fish. The results of this survey confirm that the Pondoland region has a rich marine biodiversity and is situated within a unique transition zone between subtropical and warm temperate waters. It is imperative that this rich biodiversity, coupled with the aesthetic beauty of the Pondoland coastline, be adequately zoned for protection within the proclaimed marine protected area. Keywords: benthic fauna and flora; biodiversity survey; marine geographic information system (GIS); marine protected area (MPA); Pondoland coast; subtropical reef communitiesAfrican Journal of Marine Science 2007, 29(1): 65–7

The Coral Trait Database, a curated database of trait information for coral species from the global oceans.

Trait-based approaches advance ecological and evolutionary research because traits provide a strong link to an organism's function and fitness. Trait-based research might lead to a deeper understanding of the functions of, and services provided by, ecosystems, thereby improving management, which is vital in the current era of rapid environmental change. Coral reef scientists have long collected trait data for corals; however, these are difficult to access and often under-utilized in addressing large-scale questions. We present the Coral Trait Database initiative that aims to bring together physiological, morphological, ecological, phylogenetic and biogeographic trait information into a single repository. The database houses species- and individual-level data from published field and experimental studies alongside contextual data that provide important framing for analyses. In this data descriptor, we release data for 56 traits for 1547 species, and present a collaborative platform on which other trait data are being actively federated. Our overall goal is for the Coral Trait Database to become an open-source, community-led data clearinghouse that accelerates coral reef research