Growth Rates of Eight Species of Scleractinian Corals in the Eastern Pacific (Costa Rica)

The annual linear skeletal growth rates for the following hermatypic corals was studied at the non-upwelling area of Can˜o Island, Costa Rica: Porites lobata Dana; Pavona varians Verrill; Pavona clavus Dana; Pavona gigantea Verrill; Gardineroseris planulata (Dana); Psammocora superficialis (Gardiner); Pocillopora elegans Dana; Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus). The seasonal growth rates of the main reef-building corals, P. lobata and P. damicornis, were measured and correlated with five environmental variables. Growth rates for P. varians and P. superficialis are presented for the first time. The species with growth rates similar to corals from non-upwelling areas, Porites lobata, Pocillopora damicornis, P. elegans, are the dominant species at Can˜o Island, while the other species studied, Pavona clavus, P. gigantea and Gardineroseris planulata, have reduced growth rates compared to other areas. The results suggest that seasonal growth, which is greater during the dry season, may be affected by variations in available light, cloud cover, turbidity, salinity and reproductive time rather than temperature changes.