ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MUSHROOM CORALS (SCLERACTINIA:FUNGIIDAE) ON A CORAL REEF AT EILAT, NORTHERN RED SEA

摘要

Mushroom corals (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) are important components of Indo-Pacific coral reefs, yet little is known about their patterns of abundance and distribution in the Red Sea. On a fringing reef at Eilat, northern Red Sea, mushroom corals were found to be common on the reef flat and shallow slope at 20 m depth, they mainly occupied open, unshaded habitats. This study documents differences in habi- tat use between species of mushroom corals on a fringing reef, and substantial migration by the adult free-living polyps of some species out of shaded reef habitats, down the reef slope, and onto soft substratum.