[Coral-List] Porites defending themselves WITH Turf Algae?

[Damien Beri]

Aloha Coral List,

I was searching for some evidence in the literature on Porites coral using
turf algae to defend themselves from exposure. The Coral Conservancy
(community coral restoration in Hawaii) has noticed that the Porites
evermanni/lutea coral (and newly invasive Harbor Porites) we have been
working with here in Hawaii tend to cover themselves in turf algae during
warm periods and then seem to shed this algae off during cooler periods?
Porites are perforate corals, so it seems they then regrow from under the
algae. There are periods when many of the large Porites appear to be
shedding simultaneously as if some environmental que triggers this for all
the Porites in the region. Thoughts? We have some time series imagery
demonstrating this phenomena.

Thanks,
Damien Beri
President, The Coral Conservancy