Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

The Coral growth, skeletal densities and the branch thicknesses were studied in four branching coral species namely; A croporahumilis , A. hyacinths, Stylophorapistillata and Pocilloporaverrucosa at the exposed and sheltered zones of Hurghada and Hamrawin localities along the Red Sea. The growth rate reaches its maximum value in A. humilis at the sheltered zone of Hurghada (7.96±0.23mm/yr) while the lowest value was recorded in P. verrucosa (5.98±0.09mm/yr) at the exposed zone of Hamrawin. P. verrucosa showed the highest skeletal density (2.59gm/cm3) and the highest branch diameter (1.66±0.19cm) at the exposed zone of Hmrawin and A. humilis recorded the lowest skeletal density (1.21gm/cm3) at the sheltered zone of Hurghada and S. pistillata showed the lowest branch thickness (0.67±0.05cm).The growth rates showed inverse relationship with skeletal densities and the branches thickness. Moreover, the branches thicknesses have direct relationship with skeletal densities of the different species. It is clear that, the local conditions as temperature, salinity, water currents and wave actions have the greatest effects on the obvious variations in the skeletal densities, branches thickness and growth rates among the different species at the different zones. Hurghada showed higher growth rates in the different species (A croporahumilis , A. hyacinths, Stylophorapistillata and Pocilloporaverrucosa ) than Hmrawin. Inversally, Hmrawin have the greater densities and thickness than Hurghada.

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