Coral community structure of Philippine fringing reefs is shaped by broad-scale hydrologic regimes and local environmental conditions

The Philippine archipelago’s complex bathymetry, hydrology, and geologic history indicate the likely development of unique coral communities. However, there are few studies on coral community structure in the Philippines. Adult coral composition was analyzed through classification and ordination of data from 206 sampling stations, covering all Philippine marine biogeographic regions, on upper slopes of mostly well-developed fringing reefs. Seven coral community types are distinguished: I—moderately wave-exposed, mostly southwest-facing slopes with abundant massive Porites and branching Acropora ; II—highly wave-exposed, mostly northeast-facing slopes, dominated by encrusting Isopora ; III—low-exposure slopes with high hard coral cover (HCC), dominated by branching Porites ; IV—wave-sheltered communities with abundant Galaxea ; V—low-HCC communities with stress-tolerant corals; VI— Heliopora -dominated communities; VII—communities with low HCC and high macroalgal cover. Coral composition in these types is influenced by broad-scale hydrologic regimes (i.e., wave exposure and monsoon forcing) and local stressors. Applications of the typology are proposed for the spatial management of protected seascapes.