Coral recruitment following a mass mortality event

Coral recruitment, following the coral bleaching episode in 1998, was studied on the Kenyan coast. Scleractinian recruits representing 31 genera from 13 families were recorded in 2001, the dominant families at all sites being the Pocilloporidae, Poritidae, and Faviidae. The highest diversity and density of scleractinian recruits was observed at a site located within a marine park, with 11 families, 20 genera and 21.4 recruits per m2, while an unprotected site and sites with higher sediment input showed recruit densities under five. Survivorship was generally higher in massive than in branching genera. The diversity in the recruit population has decreased compared to pre-bleaching levels, while no significant change in density was recorded. Growth rates in recruits were consistent between sites and time of year, with an average growth rate of 0.117 mm2 mm(-2) mon(-1), with variation between species. The fastest growing genera were Echinopora, Acropora, Pocillopora, and Porites. With the exception of Montipora, the growth rate of surviving pre-bleaching colonies was lower and exhibited greater variability between taxa and sites than among recruits.