摘要：Reef coral cover and recruitment (Cnidaria: Scleractinia and Milleporidae) in the Itacolomis
Reefs, Brazil.
The Itacolomis Reefs (Brazil – 16°55’ S) were almost unknown until recently. In this study, reef cover,
especially corals and zoanthids, coral recruitment, and sediment deposition were sampled in six localities of
these reefs. Comparisons of coral and zoanthid cover indicated that the sampled localities have different
communities. However, usually the composition and abundance of species in each locality were comparatively
more homogeneous among its stations than between localities. Recruitment plates showed 1227 recruits.m-2.
Families considered brooders had higher recruitment, dominated by Poritidae and Agariciidae, than broadcasters
and/or families with both reproductive modes. The recruitment of Milleporidae occurred, unexpectedly, in a
single locality. The recruitment of Siderastreidae had a positive significant correlation with its adult cover;
and a negative significant correlation with adult cover of Mussidae, which confirms a previous study with
colonies of these families in the Abrolhos Archipelago. The recruitment of Mussidae had a negative significant
correlation with the cover of Agariciidae. There were not significant correlations between estimated sediment
deposition rates and coral cover and/or recruitment rates. The sediment deposition rate in locality 2 was
statistically different than the rates of other stations. This locality was the only one that exhibited a
heterogeneous composition and abundance of species among stations. Specific studies are necessary to
determine if the significant correlations found represent a cause-effect relation or if they are simultaneously under the influence of external factors. The fact that the same locality exhibited the higher sediment deposition
rate and heterogeneous communities should be investigated.
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