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The effect of light on the growth rate of intertidal Acropora pulchra (Brook) from Phuket, Thailand, lat. 8°N

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Abstract

Series of apices of Acropora pulchra from an intertidal reef at Phuket, Thailand, were grown at different depths in the sea, and the length growth was monitored at 12–24 h intervals with laser diffraction. The growth rates of actively growing apices were normally distributed and showed a high variability, with an average coefficient of variation of 58%. There was a highly significant difference in average growth rate between adjacent colonies. A significant linear relationship was found between irradiance and length growth, with a saturating level at 300–400 Wm-2. At 1000 Wm-2 length growth was significantly reduced. Under normal daylight conditions, day and night growth rates were equal.

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  1. The Museum, University of Trondheim, N-7000, Trondheim, Norway

    Tor Strömgren

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  1. Tor Strömgren
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Strömgren, T. The effect of light on the growth rate of intertidal Acropora pulchra (Brook) from Phuket, Thailand, lat. 8°N. Coral Reefs 6, 43–47 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00302211

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00302211

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