DISTRIBUTION AND BIODIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE GORGONIANS (SUBCLASS OCTOCORALLIA) - A PRELIMINARY SURVEY

Preliminary surveys of the gorgonian fauna of Singapore show the exist ence of 6 families, comprising at least 11 genera and 21 species. The distribution of this fauna is closely related to the availability of a suitable substrata for settlement and growth. In addition, the greate st number of gorgonians, in terms of abundance and species richness, i s found on the lower slopes and bottoms of the reefs in Singapore. The 'intermediate disturbance hypothesis' is applied to the data obtained and shown to be useful in making inferences on the state of successio n of gorgonian communities.