Skeletal extension of Acropora formosa at a fringing reef in the Andaman Sea

A growth study of A. formosa was conducted in situ at a fringing reef in front of Phuket Marine Biological Center, the Andaman Sea, southern Thailand. Monthly extensions of braches tagged with wire were measured in addition to sunshine, rainfall, settlement of sediment, turbidity, salinity, and temperature. The average extension of coral branches was 8 cm in 344 days. Growth was found to be approximately two times faster during the dry northeast monsoon compared with the wet southwest monsoon. Factors which can cause the observed pattern of growth are discussed.