Macroalgae Inhibits Larval Settlement and Increases Recruit Mortality at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Macroalgae significantly inhibits coral larval settlement and increases recruit mortality at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. A nine-month field experiment demonstrated that macroalgal biomass was up to 40 times greater in caged treatments compared to controls, leading to a 93% reduction in coral larval settlement. Coral recruits in the presence of macroalgae exhibited 79% lower survival and were up to 58% smaller with 75% fewer polyps. This research highlights that macroalgae not only suppresses coral recruitment but may also maintain dominance through a positive feedback loop, exacerbating reef degradation.

Webster, F. J., Babcock, R. C., Van Keulen, M., & Loneragan, N. R. (2015). Macroalgae Inhibits Larval Settlement and Increases Recruit Mortality at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Plos One, 10(4), e0124162. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0124162