| Bioerosion by grazing and boring organisms is one of the major destructive forces operating on reef. The aim of this study was to estimate the intensity of internal bioerosion by both microflora and fauna of Acropora, a branching scleractinian, on the reef flat at La Saline (Reunion, Indian Ocean). Internal bioerosion was estimated at two sites, varying in degrees of eutrophication. At each site, dead Acropora subjected to heavy grazing or covered by algal turf were examined. Acropora formosa is subjected to high bioerosion due to its high porosity and its branching form, which facilitates colonisation by boring organisms. Three endolithic microflora species, Plectonema terebrans, Mastigocoleus testarum and Ostreobium queckettii colonised the branches. The... |
