Volume 11/Number 8/August 1980

TABLE 1 I acknowledge Mrs Annick B. Davies for her translation.

The 11 more important species with: (a) number of sample series where
the species was collected (19 series studied); (b) % total of the number of Aillaud, J. P. (1976). Contribution ~t l'6tude de l'evolution des fonds au
samples where the species was collected (190 samples studied); (c) % of large de l'6missaire de Cortiou. Th~se Doc. Fac. Pharmacie, Marseille,
the total number of individuals collected (93 281 specimens have been 97 pp.
collected). Arfi, R. (1978). Plancton et pollution: effet d'un rejet urbain (grand
~missaire de Marseille). Th~se Doc. special. Oc6anogr., Universit6
a b c Aix-Marseille I1, 119 pp.
A. ramondi 18 66.16 2.53 Arnoux, A. (1979). Etude de l'6tat de pollution des eaux de l'Etang de
E. pocillimanus 13 53.51 1.94 Berre et du Golfe de Fos, Rapport Secr6tariat permanent pour la
M. inaequipes 11 20.53 1.32 Prevention des Pollutions industrielles, Marseille, 396 pp.
J. falcata 17 62.10 30.01 Arnoux, A. & Bellan-Santini, D. (1972). Relations entre la pollution
P.. variegatus 17 46.78 4.02 du secteur de Cortiou par les d6tergents anioniques et les modifications
S. tergestina 15 48.81 5.32 des peuplements de Cystoseira stricta. Tethys, 4(3), 583-586.
14. pontica 7 16.21 1.47 Bellan, G. (1967). Pollution et peuplements benthiques sur substrats
H. schmidti 13 50.70 11.01 meubles dans la r~gion de Marseille. Premiere partie. Le secteur de
H. stebbingi 7 16.60 1.32 Cortiou. Rev. int. Ocdanogr. mdd., 6 - 7 , 53-87.
C. acutifrons 8 11.86 0.15 Bellan, G. (1976). Action des facteurs de pollution 8ur les communautes
C. liparotensis 11 21.05 15.81 benthiques. In La pollution des eaux marines, Peres, J. M. (ed.),
pp. 141-158, Gauthier-Villars, Paris.
Bellan-Santini, D. (1964). Influence de la pollution sur quelques peuple-
ments superficiels de substrats rocheux. Symp. Pollut. mar.
which served as the basis of these computations varies Microorg. Prod. p~trol. Comm. intern. ExpL sc. Mer M#diter.,
127-131.
from 11.86 to 66.16%. Among these 11 species we will Bellan-Santini, D. (1969). Contribution a l'6tude des peuplements infra-
notice that, although represented in the 3 aspects of the littoraux de substrat rocheux (Etude qualitative et quantitative de la
biocenosis of photophilous algea (Fig. 4), two groups exist frange sup6rieure). Recl, Trav. Stn. mar. Endoume, 47, 5-294.
Bellan-Santini, D. & Desrosiers, G. (1977). Distribution du benthos de
as far as their dominance goes within each series of samples. substrat dur dans un golfe soumis ~i de multiples pollutions. Journ~es
The first group corresponding to pure or very pure water, Lutte Pollut. marines, Comm. Explor. sc. Mer M~diter., Split, 1976,
comprises the quasi totality of Hyale, Elasmopus 193-197.
Belsher, T. (1977). Analyse des r6percussions de pollutions urbaines sur
pocillimanus, Caprella liparotensis. Amphithoe ramondi le macrophytobenthos de M6diterran6e. Th~se Doc. sp6cial.
and Stenothoe tergestina are intermediate. Caprella Oc6anogr., Universit6 Aix-Marseille I1,296 pp.
acutifrons, Podocerus variegatus and Jassa falcata prefer Blanc, F. & Leveau, M. (1973). Plancton et eutrophie: aire d'6pandage
rhodanienne et Golfe de Fos (traitement mathematique des donn6es).
more or less polluted water. Although the population of Th~se Doctorat Etat, Universit6 Aix-Marseille II, 681 pp.
amphipods may be considered qualitatively homogeneous, Caruelle, F. (1973). Pollution marine de surface par les d6tergents
its quantitative distribution follows a balance between two anioniques provenant des 6gouts de Marseille. Th~se Doctorat,
Facult6 de Pharmacie, Aix-Marseille II, 87 pp.
preferential groups, one in pure or very pure water led by the Desrosiers, G. (1977). Contribution a l'6tude de I'influence de la
species of the genous Hyale (grazing species) and the other, pollution sur les peuplements de substrats durs dans le golfe de Fos.
in more or less strongly polluted water whose essential Th~se sp6cialit60c6anogr., Universit6 Aix-Marseille II, 135 pp.
Picard, J. (1978). Impacts sur le benthos matin de quelques grands
elements are Jassa falcata and Podocerus variegatus (both types de nuisances li6es a l'6volution des complexes urbains et
suspension feeders). industriels de la Provence occidentale. Oceanis, 4, 214-251.

MarinePollutionBulletin, Vol. I I, pp. 227-230 0025-326X/80/0801-0227502.00/0

(~ PergamonPressLtd. 1980.Printedin Great Britain.

Coral Fauna of Diego Garcia lagoon,

following harbour construction
CHARLES R. C. SHEPPARD
Department of Natural Sciences, Sunderland Museum, Tyne & Wear, UK
Present Address: Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB3, Townsville MSO, Q4180, Australia

Early descriptions of Diego Garcia atoll report a fairly
poor coral cover on lagoon knolls. Following dredging and
blasting for military construction in this very enclosed
lagoon a brief survey was made of the coral fauna on six
knolls near the new anchorage. All showed a high diversity
of species that compared well with nearby, unaffected atoll
lagoons but bad a very variable and low coral cover. The
process of construction appears to have had no major or
lasting effect on the coral diversity, and cover may not
have changed as a result of the works. Oil or other toxic
spillages remain a threat, and this survey forms a baseline
in such events.
Atolls have been subject to increasing use as harbours,
military bases and other forms of development that have
resulted in interference of their terrestrial and marine eco-
systems. Terrestrial effects of such impact have been
studied (Stoddart 1968), and Endean (1976) reviewed
effects of human and natural disturbances on coral reefs
generally. Consequences of disturbances on lagoon reef
systems of atolls have not been widely reported. Instances
of the effects of a causeway linking islands of Palmyra
atoll (Dawson, 1959) and of an airfield extension in John-
stone atoll have been observed (Amerson & Shelton, 1976).
Harbour dredging in Bermuda caused a reduction in coral
227

abundance and longevity (Doge & Vaisnys, 1977) and such
mortality is at least partly due to sedimentation, reduction
of light and consequent reduction of calcification (Bak,
1978). In some cases the effects of storm damage on corals
may parallel those resulting from mechanical damage
(Endean, 1976).
Recovery of coral communities from interference and
storms may show similarities (Loya, 1976). It appears
likely that a coral succession follows destruction (Endean,
1976) and although no estimates are available for the time
scales of succession to a climax state, in the absence of
further disturbance diversity may peak before stabilizing.
Evidence following a hurricane (Stoddart, 1974) suggests
that moderately or little damaged reefs may recover com-
pletely after 10 yr whereas severely damaged reefs show
little or no recovery after this time. Endean (1976) cites
several cases where only limited recovery has occurred
several years or even decades after severe interference.
During the last decade the atoll of Diego Garcia in the
central Indian Ocean has been greatly developed for
defence reasons and has been changed from a copra
producing island with low population to a military base
with harbour and air facilities (Fig. 1). Most development
has been carried out in the north-west area where work has
included shore construction, the provision of a pier and a
turning area which, with its access channel, has been cleared
to a depth of 13.6 m. This atoll has now therefore joined
the ranks of those that have been subjected to considerable
interference.
The atoll has one of the most continuous land rims of
any in the world. The only passage into the lagoon is in the
north, and water exchange between the lagoonal basins
and the ocean is restricted and slow. Of several scientific
visits to Diego Garcia before the construction, three have
concerned themselves with lagoonal corals but in ways
unsuited for use as a baseline. Two collections were made
Fig. 1 Map of Diego Garcia with location of sample sites. Turning basin
is enclosed by unbroken line, anchorage by dashed line. Pier leads
to turning basin. Main development on land is North of point X.
Knoll locations are taken from Chart 920 0978) Diego Garcia,
British Hydrographic Office: -
(1) 7°14'57 '' S, 72°24'51 '' E. (2) 7°15'6" S, 72°25'0" E.
(3) 7°17'0 '' S, 72°23'48 '' E. (4)7°17'12" S, 72°24'30" E.
(5)7°18'6" S, 72°26'54 '' E. (6)7°18'21" S, 72027'6 '' E.
228
Marine Pollution Bulletin
around the turn of the century (Bourne, 1888; Gardiner,
1936), and a study in 1967 provided an increased species
list (Rosen, 1971) but of mainly very shallow forms and
with little ecological data. Gardiner (1936) however provides
some relevant information on the lagoon knolls, comment-
ing that in 1905 there were 'some covered with life, others
apparently dead, within the northern two miles of the
lagoon' and remarking that the floor of the northern part
between knolls was dredged for corals but was remarkably
barren. Stoddart (1971) suggested that the knolls in 1967,
especially in the north, were not actively growing since few
reached the surface. These both indicate that there may
have been a poor coverage and growth of corals and poor
reef growth prior to the main building programme.
In Diego Garcia there appear to be no continuous
pollution outfalls into the lagoon water and sewage is
discharged outside the atoll. In the lagoon therefore almost
the sole impact is that of the building and clearing opera-
tions. This account reports the results of a brief coral
survey within the lagoon, which attempted to ascertain any
gross effects that recent events may have had on the coral
fauna.
Methods
Preliminary searches confirmed Gardiner's (1936)
observations that coral knolls varied greatly within short
distances with regard to coral cover and growth. This had
no readily apparent reason, and neither coral cover nor the
proportion of poorly covered knolls showed any
geographical relationship within the lagoon or to proximity
to the harbour area. Although the earlier report was
concerned only with the parts of the knolls visible from the
surface this feature was equally marked to a depth of 25 m.
In the time available it was possible to examine six sites
by SCUBA. In order to take as much account as possible
of the large, apparently natural variation of coral cover
between sites three pairs of knolls were selected, each pair
containing as wide a range of coral cover as possible (Fig.
1). One pair of sites (1 and 2) was near the lagoon pass
where water exchange in the lagoon is greatest. Another
pair (5 and 6) was a similar distance from the cleared area
but in the central part of the lagoon where water circula-
tion is much reduced. The last pair was situated between
the others but was on the extreme edge of the cleared area,
between it and the main region of shore construction.
Coral species were recorded onto a writing board or
collected in the case of difficult species for later identifica-
tion. Estimations by eye were made simultaneously of
coral cover, sedimentation, substrate slope, cover of sand
and other loose substrate and cover by other forms of
biota. Each site was examined between its uppermost limit
which was 1 m deep in all cases except site 4 which was
8 m, and its lower limit which varied between 20-25 m.
Thirty to fourty-five minutes were spent at each of the six
sites and each search was ended only after no additional
species had been recognized for 10 min.
Results
It was confhmed visually that coral cover between knolls
was very sparse, being less than 2% below 20m, which
agrees with Gardiner's observation of 75 yr ago. On most
Volume 11/Number 8/August 1980

of the knolls no differences were discernable in the general
coral assemblages that were present. The five which reached
to within 1 m of the surface showed Acropora assemblages,
mainly A. hyacinthus and A. reticulata to about 7m.
Deeper than this, faviid assemblages existed, and occurred
also on the deeper site, knoll 4.
Table 1 presents the species found at each site, headed
by the other substrate data obtained. At each location the
more densely covered knoll shows a higher diversity of
species than the more sparsely covered site. Other than this
however there are no obvious between-site differences. The
most species-rich site (1) is that nearest the lagoon entrance
and has the greatest water exchange; however this may be
fortuitous and no pattern with respect to this exists. Like-
wise the sites sampled close to the boundary of the cleared
area show no obvious differences in terms of species
richness.
Knoll 4 however was exceptional in several ways. This
collection was taken on the anchorage boundary where,
from the visible appearance, dredging had clearly taken
place. Many coral colonies had been fragmented, but a
large proportion of the fragments that had remained right
side upwards had continued to grow. In this area there
were a large number of species that are usually attached to
the substrate growing free and otherwise normally. There-
fore although the substrate had a large proportion of dead
rock and rubble there was an enhanced diversity of
shallow and middle depth forms due to the artificial juxta-
position of species by the dredging operation. The growth
of many was slowly resulting in reattachment. The large
piles of rubble formed a reef of an artificial nature, and
regrowth of surviving fragments may have a significant
local effect of consolidation.
Other than this there are no very obvious differences
between sites. All six sites fall within the same hydrological
basin (Stoddart, 1971) and may all possibly be considered
as replicate samples of the coral fauna in the disturbed
area. The striking feature of the fauna is its fairly high
diversity. Seventy-four hermatypic species of 46 genera
found on 6 fairly small knolls compares very favourably
with lagoons and even seaward reefs reported elsewhere
(e.g. Wells & Davis, 1966; Rosen, 1971b; Maragos & Jokiel,
1978). It comprises about one-third of the total number of
species found for Chagos (Sheppard, 1980a).
An idea of the richness of this fauna may be obtained by
comparison with that found in the other Chagos atolls; the

TABLE 1
Habitat details and species from 6 lagoon knolls.

Site 1 2 3 4 5 6

Coral cover (%) 30 10 60 5 25 20

Dead coral (%) 10 10 5 10 0 0
algaecover (%) 10 10 0 0 0 0
sand/debris (%) 50 70 35 85 70 80
sedimentation ++ + ++ ++ + +
slope( ° ) 40 40 40 5 20 10

1 2 3 4 5 6
Stylocoeniella guentheri B-S x x x Faviafavus F o r s k a l x ×
Psammocora contigua E s p e r x x Favia stelligera D a n a x x
Stylophora pistillata E s p e r x x x Favia cfamicorum g p . x x
Seriatopora hystrix D a n a × Favia s p 1. x x
Pocillopora damicornis L. x × x x x Favites halicora E h r x ×
Acropora reticulata B r o o k x x x x x x Favites s p p x × 2 2
Acropora hyacinthus D a n a x x x x Favites peresi F a u r e & P i c h o n x x
Acropora palifera L a m . x × Goniastrea retiformis L a i n . x x x x x
Acropora humilis D a n a × Goniastrea edwardsl? C h e v a l i e r ×
Acropora cf concinna x x x x x Goniastrea pectinata E h r x x x
A cropora cfspicifera × x Platygyra daedalea E & S x ×
Acropora s p 1 x x x Hydnophora exesa P a l l a s x x
Astreopora s p p . x x x x x x Leptastrea transversa K l u n z x x x
Montipora spp, 2 x 2 2 4 3 Cyphastrea sp. x x x
Pavona clavus D a n a x x x Echinopora lamellosa E s p e r ×
Pavona varians Verrill x x x × Echinopora gemmacea L a m x
Pavona cf frondifera × x Montastrea curta D a n a × × x
Pavona (Polyastra) sp. × Galaxea clavus D a n a x x x x
Pavona (Pseudocolumnastraea) sp. × Ctenella chagius M a t t h a i x x
Gardineroserisponderosa S c h e e r & P i l l a i x x Lobophyllia corymbosa F o r s k a l x x x x x
Pachyseris rugosa L a m . × x Symphyllia radians E d & H x x x x
Pachyseris levicollis D a n a x Rhizangilidae x
Coscinaraea sp. × Echinophyllia sp. x x
Fungia (Pleuractis) scutaria L a m . × × Mycedium tubifex D a n a x ×
Fungia (Danafungia) corona D o d e r l e i n × x Euphyllia (Euphyllia) glabrescens C & E ×
Fungia (Fungia) fungites L. x x x Turbinaria s p p . x x x 2
Herpolitha limax E s p c r x x x x x x
Halomitra philippinensis S t u d e r x x x x x Tubipora musica L. x
Herpetoglossa simplex G a r d i n e r × Heliopora coerulea P a l l a s ×
Goniopora s p p . x x x x 2
Porites lutea E d & H x x x x x x Millepora s p p . x x x x x
Porites lichen D a n a x
Porites andrewsi V a u g h a n x x Totals 48 28 36 32 33 27
Porites s p p . x 2 3 2 x
Porites (Synaraea) sp. × x x x x
AIveopora sp. x x x x
Plesiastrea versipora E d & H x

229
 Marine Pollution Bulletin

more open lagoon of Peros Banhos (Sheppard, 1980b),
that of the sheltered Salomon lagoon, and the com-
pletely awash atoll of Blenheim, all of which lie a b o u t
150 k m n o r t h of Diego Garcia. I n all cases the lagoons
have suffered m i n i m a l disturbance; the first two have been
uninhabited for over 6 yr while Blenheim has no islands.
Table 2 summarizes transect data from knolls o f each that
were obtained in the same way. I n terms of species richness
the range o f diversity values f o u n d a n d the total values are
very similar o n all three islanded atolls. Coral cover how-
ever is low in Diego Garcia although the values overlap
with those of the other atolls. Diego Garcia lagoon cannot
therefore be described as poor in species. Its low cover
however m a y well be significant in this respect, although it
should be noted that low cover was commented on at the
turn of the century.
been suggested that a threshold m a y exist regarding coral
reef recovery, at least after storm damage (Stoddart, 1974),
up to which recovery m a y be rapid a n d beyond which
recovery m a y be prolonged at best. For the northern and
largest basin of Diego Garcia it appears that such a thresh-
hold was not passed. It was not possible, however, to
investigate the more southern basins where water exchange
is m u c h less a n d where effects, if any, might be more
p r o n o u n c e d or long lasting.
If the disturbance of the lagoon does not continue there
may be little need for concern with regard to the coral
fauna. With the level of activity both o n land a n d in
shipping movements increasing however, an accidental
spill of pollutant as well as mechanical interference remains
possible. In that event the results obtained from this study
would serve as a baseline.

TABLE 2 This work was carried out on the Joint Services Chagos Research
Values of coral cover (mean and range) and species richness Expedition. The numerous sources of financial support are listed in the
(range on individual transects and total) Report of the Expedition. Dr. B. Brown kindly gave helpful comments
for four atolls of the Chagos Archipelago. on the manuscript.
Diego Peros
Atoll Garcia Banhos Salomon Blenheim
Amerson, A. B. & Shelton, P. C. (1976). The natural history of
No. knolls/ 6 6 4 1 Johnstone Atoll, central Pacific Ocean. AtollRes. Bull., 192, 479.
transects (randomly Bak, R. P. M. (1978). Lethal and sublethal effects of dredging on coral
surveyed selected reefs. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 9, 14-16.
from many) Bourne, G. C. (1888). The atoll of Diego Garcia and the coral forma-
Mean coral 25 58 62 40 tions of the Indian Ocean. Proc. R. Soc., 43,440-461.
cover (%) Dawson, E. Y. (1959). Changes in Palmyra Atoll and its vegetation
Cover range (%) 5-60 51 -70 55-79 - through the activitiesof man 1913-1958. Pacif. Nat., 1, 1-51.
Doge, R. E. & Vaisnys, J. R. (1977). Coral populations and growth
Coral species 27 - 48 39 - 46 39 - 51 23 patterns: Responses to sedimentation and turbidity associated with
transect dredging. J. mar. Res., 35, 715-730.
Total species 72 77 73 23 Endean, R. (1967). Destruction and recovery of coral reef communities.
In Biology and Geology o f Coral Reefs, Vol. 3. O. A. Jones and
R. Endean (eds.), pp. 215-254, AcademicPress, London.
Gardiner, J. S. (1936). The reefs of the western Indian Ocean. I. Cbagos
Discussion Archipelago. II. The Mascarene region. Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. II.,
19, 393-436.
Pre-construction information on the lagoon coral fauna Loya, Y. (1976). Recolonisation of Red Sea corals affected by natural
is very brief a n d is obtained largely by inference. Effects of catastrophes and man-made perturbations. Ecology, 57, 278-289.
Maragos, J. E. & Jokiel, P. L. (1978). Reef corals of Canton Atoll. I.
the construction m a y include a reduction in coral cover Zoogeography. A toll. Res. Bull., 221, 55-70.
although this is not certain, a n d do not include a reduction Rosen, B. R. (1971a). Annotated check list and bibliography of corals
in the n u m b e r o f species. Detailed analysis of c o m m u n i t y of the Chagos Archipelago (including the recent collection from
Diego Garcia) with remarks on their distribution. Atoll Res. Bull.,
structure may reveal differences but such were outside the 149, 67-88.
scope of this survey a n d n o such differences were immedi- Rosen, B. R. (1971b). The distribution of reef coral genera in the Indian
ately apparent. A l t h o u g h it is likely that direct damage a n d Ocean. In: Regional Variation in Indian Ocean Coral Reefs, D. R.
Stoddart and C. M. Yonge (eds), Syrnp. zool. Soc. Lond., 28,
silting occurred during the construction operations, any 263-299.
effects do not appear to have been long lasting in this Sheppard, C. R. C. (1980a). Coral cover, zonation and diversityon reef
northern basin o f Diego Garcia. A l t h o u g h several large slopes of Chagos Atolls, and population structures of the major
species. Mar. ecol. prog. ser., 2, 193-205.
dead A c r o p o r a tables existed, several with a covering of Sheppard, C. R. C. (1980b). The reef and soft-substrate coral fauna of
filamentous algae, these existed also in the other lagoons Chagos, Indian Ocean, J. nat. HisL, (in press).
where there has been no h u m a n interference. The existing Stoddart, D. R. (1968). Catastrophic human interferencewith coral atoll
ecosystems. Geography, 53, 25--40.
silt also is not greater than that in the enclosed lagoons of Stoddart, D. R. (1971). Geomorphology of Diego Garcia Atoll. Atoll
S a l o m o n or Blenheim. I n a Pacific atoll (Amerson & Res. Bull., 149, 7-26.
Shelton, 1976) silting led to a reduction of 0--40°70 in coral Stoddart, D. R. (1974). Post-hurricane changes on the British Honduras
reefs: re-surveyof 1972. Proc. 2ndInt. coral reef Symp. 2, 473-483.
cover, a n d a temporary silting c a n n o t be ruled out as caus- Wells, J. W. & Davis, P. S. (1966). Preliminary list of stony corals from
ing the low cover values in Diego Garcia. However it has Addu Atoll. AtollRes. Bull., 116,43-55.

230