B. Riegl et We. Piller, DISTRIBUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL-CONTROL OF CORAL ASSEMBLAGES IN NORTHERN SAFAGA BAY (RED-SEA, EGYPT), Facies, 36, 1997, pp. 141-162
Coral assemblages in northern Safaga Bay, Red Sea, Egypt, are qualitat
ively described. Nine distinct assemblages were found, which correspon
d to quantitatively defined community types previously described from
the area off Hurghada, northern Red Sea. Their distribution within nor
thern Safaga Bay was mapped. Strong gradient and/or steep relief assem
blages were: Acropora assemblage on windward (exposed) reefs, Porites
assemblage on leeward (sheltered) reefs, Millepora assemblage on curre
nt exposed reefs, Stylophora assemblage on reef flats. Low gradient an
d/or low relief assemblages were: Acropora dominated coral patches in
areas of good circulation to a depth of 15 m, Stylophora/Acropora cora
l patch assemblages in shallow sheltered environments, faviid carpet i
n low relief areas between 10 and 25 m which with increasing turbidity
turns into a depauperate faviid carpet, Porites carpet in low relief
areas between 5 and 15 m with clearest water, Sarcophyton carpet in lo
w relief areas wi th high suspension load, platy scleractinian assembl
age in deeper water (>25 m) with low light intensity. The distribution
of coral assemblages depends basically on 1) topography 2) hydrodynam
ics 3) light and 4) suspension load.