Distribution and community structure of the reef corals of Ensenada de Utría, Pacitic coast of Colombia

Abstract

Two types of coral communities occur in the Ensenada de Utría National Park (Pacific of Colombia) reefs, which develop in shallow sheltered water, and smaller non-reefal communities along wave exposed basaItic blocks. Chola reef, the largest coral comínunity (approx. 10.5 ha), is characterized by relative high coral cover (32.4%) and dominated by Pocillopora damicornis. Smaller in size (approx. 1.5 ha), Diego reef is mainly covered by dead Pocil/opo"ra damicornis and live Psammocora (S.) stel/ata (2%). The other non-reefal communities are characterized by isolated coral colonies and patches of Pavona clavus, Pavona gigantea and Porites [obata. Coral community deterioration at Utría is evident, specially in the reefs, where both natural and antropogenic disturbances (e.g. phytoplankton blooms, human induced siltation, dynamite fishing and probably El Niño 1982-83 warming event) seem to influence the community structure.