Abstract
The distribution of 64 reef-building scleractinian species was studied in turbid waters of the South China Sea. The depth limit of scleractinian distribution in the Gulf of Siam is 18–20 m with 8–2% of incident surface irradiance, which is close to the lower light limit of most corals containing zooxanthellae. Forty percent of the scleractinian species studied inhabit the entire depth range with 70–30% of incident surface irradiance. No specific “grotto” species were identified even in sites of extreme shading, though only explanate plate, corymbose and encrusting colonies were found in low light levels.
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Titlyanov, E.A., Latypov, Y.Y. Light-dependence in scleractinian distribution in the sublittoral zone of South China Sea Islands. Coral Reefs 10, 133–138 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00572172
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00572172