Quantifying diversity and growth form distribution of scleractinian corals, in Mangrove Bay, El Qoseir, Egypt

Theres Koch; Angelina Ivkić; Lewis Jones; Victor Scharnhorst; Constanze Stix; Antonia Auer; Theda Schöchtner; Gözde Özer; Simon Steinwender; Joseph Wallace Daurella; Martin Zuschin

doi:10.3897/BDJ.13.e134282

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Biodiversity Data Journal 13: e134282
https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.13.e134282 (23 Jan 2025)

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Figure 1Download

Map showing the location of Mangrove Bay and El Qoseir in Egypt (A). Google Earth image depicting the two study locations (B). Layout of the Line Intercept Transects (C).

Figure 2Download

The transect line was stretched horizontally following the reef contour. Every biotic and abiotic component directly beneath the line was recorded. Photo credit: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 3Download

The growth form and appearance of Acropora digitifera in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Antonia Auer, Theda Schöchtner, Gözde Özer.

Figure 4Download

The growth form and appearance of Acropora hemprichii in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 5Download

Amongst the Acropora colonies identified to genus level, eight morphotypes (A—H) were distinguished. Photo credits: (A) Lewis Alan Jones; (B), (C), (F) Joseph Wallace Daurella; (D) Theres Koch; (E), (H) Antonia Auer, Theda Schöchtner, Gözde Özer; (G) Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 6Download

The growth form and appearance of Astreopora myriophthalma in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 7Download

The growth form and appearance of Montipora crypta in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 8Download

The growth form and appearance of Montipora danae (bleached) in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 9Download

The growth form and appearance of Montipora efflorescens (bleached) in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 10Download

The growth form and appearance of Montipora cf. grisea in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Joseph Wallace Daurella.

Figure 11Download

The growth form and appearance of Montipora maeandrina in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of another colony. Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 12Download

Amongst the Montipora colonies identified to genus level, four morphotypes (A—D) were distinguished. Photo credits: (A), (C) Joseph Wallace Daurella; (B), (D) Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 13Download

The growth form and appearance of Montipora tuberculosa in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Lewis Alan Jones.

Figure 14Download

The growth form and appearance of Gardineroseris planulata in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 15Download

The growth form and appearance of Leptoseris mycetoseroides in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 16Download

The growth form and appearance of Pavona diffluens in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: (A) Lewis Alan Jones; (B) Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 17Download

Amongst the Pavona colonies identified only to genus level, one morphotype (A—B) was distinguished. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 18Download

The growth form and appearance of Pavona varians in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of another colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 19Download

The growth form and appearance of Stylocoeniella cf. guentheri in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a closer-up of the colony. Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 20Download

The growth form and appearance of Coscinaraea monile in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Joseph Wallace Daurella.

Figure 21Download

The growth form and appearance of Turbinaria mesenterina in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 22Download

The growth form and appearance of Galaxea fascicularis (bleached) in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 23Download

The growth form and appearance of Gyrosmilia interrupta in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 24Download

The growth form and appearance of Ctenactis cf. crassa in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Joseph Wallace Daurella.

Figure 25Download

The growth form and appearance of Leptastrea bottae (bleached) in the reef are shown in (A), with an arrow indicating the colony while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 26Download

The growth form and appearance of Leptastrea inaequalis (bleached) in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Lewis Alan Jones.

Figure 27Download

The growth form and appearance of Leptastrea transversa in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 28Download

The growth form and appearance of Acanthastrea hemprichii in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 29Download

Amongst the Echinophyllia colonies identified only to genus level, one morphotype (A—B) was distinguished. Photo credits: Lewis Alan Jones.

Figure 30Download

Amongst the Echinophyllia cf. colonies identified only to genus level, one morphotype (A—B) was distinguished. Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 31Download

The growth form and appearance of the only Oxypora colony found is represented by one morphotype (A—B). Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 32Download

The growth form and appearance of Cyphastrea chalcidicum in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Joseph Wallace Daurella.

Figure 33Download

The growth form and appearance of Cyphastrea kausti in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 34Download

The growth form and appearance of Cyphastrea magna in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Antonia Auer, Theda Schöchtner, Gözde Özer.

Figure 35Download

The growth form and appearance of Cyphastrea microphthalma in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Joseph Wallace Daurella.

Figure 36Download

Amongst the Cyphastrea colonies identified only to genus level, one morphotype (A—B) was distinguished. Photo credits: Joseph Wallace Daurella.

Figure 37Download

The growth form and appearance of Dipsastraea danai in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Joseph Wallace Daurella.

Figure 38Download

The growth form and appearance of Dipsastraea faviaformis in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 39Download

The growth form and appearance of Dipsastraea laxa (bleached) in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 40Download

The growth form and appearance of Dipsastraea matthaii in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Antonia Auer, Theda Schöchtner, Gözde Özer.

Figure 41Download

The growth form and appearance of Dipsastraea pallida (bleached) in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 42Download

The growth form and appearance of Dipsastraea speciosa in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 43Download

The growth form and appearance of Echinopora forskaliana in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 44Download

The growth form and appearance of Echinopora fruticulosa (bleached) in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Joseph Wallace Daurella.

Figure 45Download

The growth form and appearance of Favites abdita in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Antonia Auer, Theda Schöchtner, Gözde Özer.

Figure 46Download

The growth form and appearance of Favites cf. complanata in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 47Download

The growth form and appearance of Favites rotundata in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 48Download

The growth form and appearance of Favites vasta in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Lewis Alan Jones.

Figure 49Download

The growth form and appearance of Goniastrea edwardsi in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Antonia Auer, Theda Schöchtner, Gözde Özer.

Figure 50Download

The growth form and appearance of Goniastrea pectinata (bleached) in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of another colony. Photo credits: (A) Theres Koch; (B) Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 51Download

The growth form and appearance of Goniastrea retiformis (bleached) in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Lewis Alan Jones.

Figure 52Download

The growth form and appearance of Goniastrea stelligera in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Antonia Auer, Theda Schöchtner, Gözde Özer.

Figure 53Download

The growth form and appearance of Merulina scheeri in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 54Download

The growth form and appearance of Paramontastraea peresi (bleached) in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 55Download

The growth form and appearance of Pocillopora damicornis in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of another colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 56Download

The growth form and appearance of a small Pocillopora sp. in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Lewis Alan Jones.

Figure 57Download

The growth form and appearance of Pocillopora verrucosa in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of another (bleached) colony. Photo credits: (A) Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst; (B) Theres Koch.

Figure 58Download

The growth form and appearance of Seriatopora caliendrum (bleached) in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: (A) Theres Koch; (B) Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 59Download

The growth form and appearance of Seriatopora hystrix in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Joseph Wallace Daurella.

Figure 60Download

The growth form and appearance of Stylophora cf. kuehlmanni (bleached) in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Joseph Wallace Daurella.

Figure 61Download

The growth form and appearance of Stylophora pistillata in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Antonia Auer, Theda Schöchtner, Gözde Özer.

Figure 62Download

Amongst the Stylophora colonies identified only to genus level, one morphotype (A—B) was distinguished. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 63Download

The growth form and appearance of Stylophora subseriata in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 64Download

The growth form and appearance of Porites rus in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Theres Koch.

Figure 65Download

Amongst the Porites colonies identified only to genus level, one morphotype (A—B) was distinguished. Photo credits: Joseph Wallace Daurella.

Figure 66Download

The growth form and appearance of Psammocora profundacella in the reef are shown in (A), while (B) provides a close-up of the colony. Photo credits: Victor Sebastian Scharnhorst.

Figure 67Download

The number of scleractinian coral species across the six different habitats at the study sites at Mangrove Bay.

Figure 68Download

Coral growth form distribution across six different habitats. The percentage of each growth form was calculated, based on its contribution to the total transect length for each habitat. Abbreviations: ACB (Acropora Coral Branching), ACD (Acropora Coral Digitate), CB (Coral Branching), CE (Coral Encrusting), CF (Coral Foliaceous), CM (Coral Massive), CMR (Coral Mushroom) and CS (Coral Submassive). Bars display the mean ± standard deviation. Error bars extending 0 were set to 0.

Figure 69Download

Distribution of various life form categories across the six habitats. Percentages were calculated, based on each category's contribution to the total transect length per habitat (excluding gaps). The "Algae" category comprises algae assemblages, coralline algae, macroalgae and turf algae. The "Dead Scleractinian Coral" category includes dead corals as well as dead corals overgrown with algae. The "Millepora spp." category encompasses Millepora dichotoma, Millepora exaesa and Millepora platyphylla. The "Benthic Fauna" category combines other species, such as molluscs, echinoderms and sponges. The "Scleractinian Corals" category includes all living hard corals. The "Soft Corals" category encompasses all octocorals that intersected the transect line, including those identified to the genus level, such as Heteroxenia and Rhytisma. The "Substrate" category comprises coral rubble, rock and sand. Bars display the mean ± standard deviation. Error bars extending 0 were set to 0.

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