Regional Variation in Shade-Dwelling Coral Assemblages of the Great Barrier Reef Province

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Abstract
Research on shade-dwelling scleractinian corals involved the study of more than 120 caves, tunnels and shaded overhangs from various reef types within the Great Barrier Reef province. Study was concentrated in the Lizard Island region (14.degree.-15.degree.S), with comparative work in the central (19.degree.S) and especially the southern (23.degree.S) sectors of the province. Numerical classification was used to analyze patterns of distribution and association within these shade-dwelling assemblages. Analysis confirmed the existence of definite regional differences in the shade-dwelling coral fauna, with caves in the southern part of the Barrier Reef having a generally impoverished scleractinian fauna compared with that found in more northerly areas. Observations of other shade-dwelling biota suggest that, at higher latitudes, certain algal groups are more successful than corals in cryptic habitats, with the algae tending to exclude their scleractinian competitors. This suggestion is borne out by records from the southwestern Indian Ocean. While there are some basic similarities between the cryptic biota from many reef regions, generalizations about the structure of the shade-dwelling communities should not be made from studies within a limited area.

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