First insights into coral recruit and juvenile abundances at remote Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles

Aldabra Atoll, a remote UNESCO World Heritage Site, shows rapid coral recovery post-bleaching. Research reveals a 2-3 year increase in juvenile coral abundance from 7.4 ± 0.5 to 22.4 ± 1.2 colonies per m² between 2015 and 2019, with significant regional variations. Coral recruits, dominated by Pocilloporidae (64-92%), were 7-47 times more abundant inside the lagoon than outside, peaking at 2164 ± 453 recruits per m² in October-December 2018. This aligns with broadcast spawning during warmer water temperatures (26-29°C), suggesting a link between temperature and coral reproduction. The study provides critical baseline data for understanding reef resilience and connectivity in the Seychelles Outer Islands.

Koester, A., Ford, A. K., Ferse, S. C. A., Migani, V., Bunbury, N., Sanchez, C., & Wild, C. (2021). First insights into coral recruit and juvenile abundances at remote Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles. Plos One, 16(12), e0260516. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260516