摘要：Marinas require extensive modification of a natural coast. The resulting modified habitat is known to support changed biological communities but the ability of tropical marinas to function as a surrogate habitat for scleractinian corals has not been well investigated. An assessment of scleractinian corals naturally colonising a nine-year-old marina seawall in Singapore indicated 26 genera from 13 families, of which Pectinia and Turbinaria were the most dominant. Most colonies measured 10 – 25 cm in diameter. Reefs of adjacent islands provided the larval source while the marina’s environmental conditions favored larval recruitment and growth. Specific larval settlement preferences as well as sediment rejection capabilities of the two most common genera could have contributed to their dominance. The study showed that the seawall of a marina can support scleractinian coral communities and with relevant management, can significantly enhance marine biodiversity.
