NATURAL CORAL COLONIZATION OF A MARINA SEAWALL IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Marinas require extensive modification of a natural coast. The resulting modified habitat is known to support
changed biological communities but the ability of tropical marinas to function as a surrogate habitat for
scleractinian corals has not been well investigated. An assessment of scleractinian corals naturally
colonising a nine-year-old marina seawall in Singapore indicated 26 genera from 13 families, of which
Pectinia and Turbinaria were the most dominant. Most colonies measured 10 – 25 cm in diameter. Reefs of
adjacent islands provided the larval source while the marina’s environmental conditions favored larval
recruitment and growth. Specific larval settlement preferences as well as sediment rejection capabilities of
the two most common genera could have contributed to their dominance. The study showed that the seawall
of a marina can support scleractinian coral communities and with relevant management, can significantly
enhance marine biodiversity.