Spatial organisation and functional composition of benthic reef assemblages across a depth gradient in western Aldabra Atoll

Aldabra Atoll's western seaward reefs exhibit a resilient, post-disturbance state dominated by stress-tolerant massive corals, with spatial organization shifting deterministically from shallow aggregated frameworks to deeper fragmented nucleated patches. This study, using 300 high-resolution video-still quadrats across two depth contours (8 m and 15 m), revealed that environmental filtering, rather than stochastic neutral drift, drives post-bleaching recovery. Multivariate dispersion analysis highlighted increased patchiness with depth, while statistical niche modeling confirmed substrate stability as a physical bottleneck, with Isopora spp. thriving on rock pavement and Goniopora spp. dominating mobile rubble. These findings underscore the role of niche-driven processes in shaping benthic community structure following climate-induced disturbances.

Landers, D., Head, C., Koester, A., Burt, A., Koldewey, H., & Bonsall, M. B. (2026). Spatial organisation and functional composition of benthic reef assemblages across a depth gradient in western Aldabra Atoll. Frontiers in Marine Science, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1758580