Summary
The most significant factor determining the structure of Hawaiian reef coral communities is physical disturbance from waves. Sequential analysis of community structure off the west coast of the island of Hawaii shows that variation of wave energy and storm frequency clearly affects organization in time and space. Normal conditions of low wave stress maintain four well-defined reef zones; diversity is highest at intermediate depths and decreases in physically rigorous shallow areas and stable deep reef slopes. Intermediate level storm wave events cause variable effects within the reef zones, but the zonation pattern, as a whole, is maintained. Diversity increases in zones that are dominated by a single species largely through nonlethal fragmentation and transport, but decreases in the zone of most equitable species distribution. Conversely, severe infrequent storm disturbances that cause massive mortality to all coral species wipe out the pattern of community structure and return the entire community to a low diversity early successional stage.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adey W (1978) Coral reef morphogenesis: a multidimensional model. Science (NY) 202:831–837
Bak R, Luckhurst B (1980) Constancy and change in coral reef habitats along depth gradients at Curacao. Oecologia 47:145–155
Ball M, Shinn E, Stockman K (1967) The geological effects of hurricane Donna in South Florida. J Geol 75:583–597
Connell J (1978) Diversity in tropical rain forests and coral reefs. Science 199:1302–1310
Cooper M (1966) Destruction of marine fauna and flora in Fiji caused by the hurricane of February 1965. Pacif Sci 20:137–141
Darwin C (1942) The structure and distribution of coral reefs. D. Appleton and Co., New York
Glynn P, Almodovar L, Gonzalez J (1964) Effects of hurricane Edith on marine life in La Parguera, Puerto Rico, Caribb J Sci 4:335–345
Goda Y (1970) A synthesis of breaker indices. Proc Jpn Soc Civil Eng no 180
Grigg R (1982) Community structure, succession and development of coral reefs in Hawaii. Mar Ecol Prog Ser (in press)
Grigg R, Maragos J (1974) Recolonization of hermatypic corals on submerged lava flows in Hawaii. Ecology 55:387–395
Hernandez-Avila M, Roberts H, Rouse L (1977) Hurricane generated waves and coastal boulder rampart formation. Proc 3rd Int Coral Reef Symp 2:71–78
Highsmith R (1980) Passive colonization and asexual colony multiplication in the massive coral Porites lutea Milne Ewards & Haime. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 47:55–67
Highsmith R (1981) Coral bioerosion at Enewetak: agents and dynamics. Int Revue Ges Hydrobiol
Highsmith R (1982) Reproduction by fragmentation in corals. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 7:206–226
Highsmith R, Riggs A, D'Antonio C (1980) Survival of hurricane-generated coral fragments and a disturbance model of reef calcification/growth rates. Oecologia 46:322–329
Loucks O (1970) Evolution of diversity, efficiency and community stability. Am Zool 10:17–25
Loya Y (1972) Community structure and species diversity of hermatypic corals at Eilat, Red Sea. Mar Biol 13:100–123
Maragos J (1972) A study of the ecology of Hawaiian reef corals. PhD dissertation, University of Hawaii
Maragos J, Baines G, Beveridge P (1973) Tropical cyclone Bebe creates a new land formation on Funafuti Atoll. Science 181:1161–1164
Odum E (1969) The strategy of ecosystem development. Science 164:262–270
Patrick R (1967) The effect of invasion rate, species pool and size of area on the structure of the diatom community. Proc Natl Acad Sci 58:1335–1342
Pearson R (1981) Recovery and recolonization of coral reefs. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 4:105–122
Perkins R, Enos P (1968) Hurricane Betsy in the Florida-Bahama area — geologic effects and comparison with hurricane Donna. J Geol 76:710–717
Pielou E (1966) The measurement of diversity in different types of biological collections. J Theor Biol 13:131–144
Porter J (1972a) Predation by Acanthaster and its effect on coral species diversity. Am Nat 106:487–492
Porter J (1972b) Ecology and species diversity of coral reefs on opposite sides of the Isthmus of Panama. Bull Biol Soc Wash 2:89–116
Roberts H (1974) Variability of reefs with regard to changes in wave power around an island. Proc 2nd Int Coral Reef Symp 2:497–512
Sheppard C (1980) Coral fauna of Diego Garcia Lagoon following harbor construction. Mar Poll Bull 11:227–230
Sheppard C (1981) The reef and soft-substrate coral fauna of Chagos, Indian Ocean. J Nat Hist 15:607–621
Shinn E (1972) Coral reef recovery in Florida and in the Persian Gulf. Environmental Conservation Dept, Shell Oil Co, Houston, Texas
Slobodkin L, Sanders H (1969) On the contribution of environmental predictability to species diversity. In: Diversity and stability in ecological systems. Brookhaven Symp Biol 22:82–95
Stehli F, Wells J (1971) Diversity and age patterns in hermatypic corals. Syst Zool 120:115–126
Stoddart D (1963) Effects of Hurricane Hattie on the British Honduras reefs and cays, October 30–31, 1961. Atoll Res Bull 95:1–142
Stoddart D (1969) Post-hurricane changes on the British Honduras reefs and cays: Re-survey of 1965. Atoll Res Bull 13:1–25
Stoddart D (1974) Post-hurricane changes on the British Honduras reefs: Re-survey of 1972. Proc 2nd Int Coral Reef Symp 2:473–483
Storr J (1964) Ecology and oceanography of the coral reef tract, Abaco Island, Bahamas. Geol Soc Am Spec Pap 79:1–98
Sverdrup H, Johnson M, Fleming R (1942) The oceans, their physics, chemistry and general biology. Prentice-Hall Inc, Englewood Cliffs
Walsh W (1982) Catastrophe on a coral reef: storm effects on a Hawaiian reef and its fish community. In preparation
US Army Coastal Engineering Research Center (1973) Shore protection manual, vol 1. US Govt Printing Office, Washington DC
Vosburgh F (1977) The response to drag of the reef coral Acropora reticulata. Proc 3rd Int Coral Reef Symp 1:477–482
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology Contribution No.616
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dollar, S.J. Wave stress and coral community structure in Hawaii. Coral Reefs 1, 71–81 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301688
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301688