Coral recruitment onto an experimental pulverised fuel ash–concrete artificial reef

First record of the Central Indo-Pacific reef coral Oulastrea crispata in the Mediterranean Sea

“…Since O. crispata is considered the most coldtolerant zooxanthellate reef coral (Veron & Minchin, 1992), it may survive transport through cold water over long distances. O. crispata corals can settle on various artificial shallow-water substrates (Lam, 2000b(Lam, , 2003. Therefore, they may also be able to attach themselves to metal substrates, as demonstrated by the amphi-Atlantic reef coral Favia fragum (Esper, 1793) (Hoeksema et al, 2012).…”

Seasonal heterogeneity provides a niche opportunity for ascidian invasion in subtropical marine communities

“…upwelling and monsoon rainfall events) that change environmental conditions and communities (Witman and Smith, 2003). In subtropical regions, where environmental seasonality varies between temperate and tropical conditions, the recruitment and abundance of marine species clearly respond to seasonal changes (Morton and Morton, 1983;Lam, 2001;Huang, 2003). Studies have reported that some non-native species recruit under seasonal and local spatial conditions in which native species recruitment is lower (Osman et al, 2010;Tracy and Reyns, 2014), suggesting that non-native species may use available temporal niches according to their abilities to respond to environmental changes.…”

“…Heavy rainfall in summer reduces salinity in estuaries and enclosed systems (Morton and Morton, 1983). Sedentary subtidal taxa can persist through both seasons, but their recruitment and abundance respond to seasonal changes (Hon, 1978;Mak, 1983;Lam, 2001;Huang, 2003). For example, in Hong Kong three main general groups of species can be found in fouling communities, those that recruit and dominate in winter (e.g.…”

“…Perna viridis) and those species that remain invariable and dominant throughout the seasons (e.g. Hydroides elegans and Balanus spp., Hon, 1978;Mak, 1983;Lam, 2001;Huang, 2003). Studies on native fish and crab assemblages in Hong Kong indicate that most predator species have a tropical distribution, and their abundance and feeding activity decrease under temperate conditions in winter (Lai, 1996;Cornish, 2000).…”

Ahermatypic corals (Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae, Oculinidae and Rhizangiidae) recorded from submarine caves in Hong Kong

“…Korea (20 m) (Song 1991), Japan (Ogawa et al 1996), open water seabed and Conic Island and Steep Island Caves, Hong Kong (Lam 2003;this study).…”