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3-D distribution of nongeniculate corallinales: a case study from a reef crest of South Sinai (Red Sea, Egypt)

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Abstract

An innovative technique for the estimation of species and growth-form abundance of coralline algae, including information on their vitality, was adopted on the reef crest of Ras Nosrani and Coral Bay, South Sinai. Data of coralline abundance from visual census and collection of voucher specimens were plotted on a 3-D sketched representation of the horizontal and vertical planes of the reef crest and of its crannies. Coralline dominance at the two investigated sites was not significantly different, with values ranging from 8.55 and 10.06% on the vertical plane and from 5.3 to 7.17% on the horizontal plane. About one-third of total corallines of the South Sinai reef crest was located in crannies, where the algae are completely overlooked by routine field surveys. Pink to violet, healthy corallines with encrusting growth-form, mainly belonging to Hydrolithon onkodes and Neogoniolithon, with subordinate fruticose Lithophyllum kotschyanum dominated the reef crest at both sites. The fruticose growth form, usually associated with L. kotschyanum, was more common in the horizontal than in the vertical plane. Purple, healthy, encrusting Sporolithon uncommonly occurred. Whitish, gray or green unhealthy or dead corallines were more common on the horizontal plane at both sites, possibly resulting from excessive solar radiation.

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Acknowledgments

We thank F. Benzoni for discussion and comments on the manuscript, and for assistance on field work. We also thank The National Park of Egypt, South Sinai Sector (NCS/EEAA) for field work permit and the Coral Beach diving center for logistical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences and Geotechnologies, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 4, 20126, Milan, Italy

    A. Caragnano & D. Basso

  2. Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences (BtBs), University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126, Milan, Italy

    F. Colombo

  3. Department of Biology, Section of Systematic Botany, University of Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy

    G. Rodondi

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  1. A. Caragnano
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  2. F. Colombo
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  3. G. Rodondi
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  4. D. Basso
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Correspondence to A. Caragnano.

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Communicated by Biology Editor Dr. Clay Cook

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Caragnano, A., Colombo, F., Rodondi, G. et al. 3-D distribution of nongeniculate corallinales: a case study from a reef crest of South Sinai (Red Sea, Egypt). Coral Reefs 28, 881–891 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-009-0524-6

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