Tom Schils1, Matthew S. Mills1,2, and Mari E. Deinhart1,3,4
1 Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam
2School of Science, Technology, and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
3National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) Ltd, Private Bag 14-901, Kilbirnie, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
4School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
The health and recovery of coral reefs following disturbances is inherent to the success of invertebrate larvae recruitment to reef substrate. Members of crustose calcifying red algae (CCRA) are a preferred substrate for scleractinian coral larval recruitment, yet species-specific settlement preferences are still largely unknown. Studies of coral larval recruitment preference to CCRA species often use morphological observations, resulting in species misidentification. Accurate identification of CCRA species is essential for coral reef restoration and management to detect favorable CCRA species for coral larvae settlement. DNA sequencing is becoming a favoured methodology to aid in CCRA species identification and to assess CCRA community composition. Molecular tools have revealed that this algal group is more species-rich than previously thought based on morphological assessments. The objective of this study was to (1) utilize DNA sequencing to investigate the taxonomic richness of a CCRA community on coral recruitment tiles while simultaneously using photo analysis and (2) evaluate species-specific recruitment preference of Acropora surculosa larvae to the CCRA tile community. Twenty-seven distinct CCRA species of the orders Corallinales and Peyssonneliales comprised this study’s 12 coral recruitment tiles, resulting in a species-rich community assemblage. One species, Lithophylloideae sp. 1, was significantly preferred by A. surculosa larval for recruitment. Detailed knowledge of species-specific interactions and community assemblage is necessary for coral reef management due to increased disturbances to coral reefs, resulting in a steady decline in coral cover.