Comparative demography of two common scleractinian corals: and .

BACKGROUND

Studies directed at understanding the demography and population dynamics of corals are relatively scarce. This limits our understanding of both the dynamics of coral populations and our capacity to develop management and conservation initiatives directed at conserving such ecosystems.

METHODS

From 2012 to 2014, we collected data on the growth, survival, and recruitment rates of two common Caribbean coral species, the stress-tolerant and the weedy . A set of size-based population matrix model was developed for two localities in Northeastern Puerto Rico and used to estimate population growth rates (λ) and determine the life cycle transition(s) that contribute the most to spatiotemporal differences in λs. The model was parameterized by following the fate of 100 colonies of each species at the two sites for two years.

RESULTS

Our data indicate that spatial variability in vital rates of both species was higher than temporal variability. During the first year, populations of exhibited λs below equilibrium at Carlos Rosario (0.817) and Palomino (0.694), followed by a considerable decline at both sites during the second year (0.700 and 0.667). Populations of showed higher λs than during the first census period at Carlos Rosario (0.898) and Palomino (0.894) with a decline at one of the sites (0.681 and 0.893) during the second census period. Colony fate in both species exhibited a significant interaction with respect to location but not to time (2 = 20.96; = 3 for and 2 = 9.55; = 3 for ).

DISCUSSION

The similar variability of λs as well as the similar survival rates for both species during the two-year census period (2012-2014) show similar variability on demographic patterns in space and time. Our results suggest that location rather than time is important for the resiliency in coral colonies. Also, will show higher resistance to disturbance in the future than .