What Causes Fleshy Algae to Overgrow Coral?

	*Fish? *Nutrients? *Disease?

FISH:   

  -Does the lack of herbivores allow algal turf's to overgrow coral?

   -Does the presence of corallivores induce coral tissue damage and subsequent algal settlement and overgrowth?

   -Do Damsel fish create refugia for coral by defending their algal turf's from all other fish, and therefore preventing corallivores from entering their territory?

   -Do herbivorous fish cause an intermediate level of constant disturbance on reefs, allowing algal turf's to attain and maintain high diversity?

   -Do fish bites in coral represent immediate settlement surfaces for turf algae? If so, many stages of succession should be visible in any given area.

    -Are certain species of algae more able to overgrow live coral than others? Do certain species of algae have a competitive advantage over others in fished vs. unfished reefs?

    -What algal species are present in Hawaiian Damsel fish territories? Are these areas more diverse than non-territories?

   -Is the pattern of succession on bare coral surfaces different in the presence or absence of herbivores?

NUTRIENTS:            

    -Do turf algae respond to increased levels of Nitrogen and Phosphorous by increasing their growth rates? If so, can this lead to algal overgrowth of live coral?

    -If substantial herbivores are present, can grazing prevent turfs from overgrowing coral even if nutrient levels are high?

   -Are certain species of turf algae able to respond more quickly than others to increased nutrient levels?

    -Is the successional pattern on bare coral surfaces the same in water with elevated nutrients as it is in oligotrophic water?

    -Is algal succession accelerated on reefs with high nutrient input?

    -Do macroalgae outcompete turf algae in the presence of high nutrients?

    -Does sedimentation on reefs induce algal overgrowth by smothering corals?

   -Can significantly high levels of nutrients be detected directly offshore from coastal resorts and golf courses? Are the reef communities in these areas different than in adjacent, unenriched areas?

CORAL DISEASE and STRESS:   

    -Is coral disease a natural phenomenon?

    -How common is disease on a healthy reef?

    -What are the common types of disease seen in Hawaii?

   -Do certain diseases target certain species of coral more than others?

    -Does disease lead to stress?

    -If corals are stressed (i.e. bleached) are they less able to defend themselves against diseases and algal overgrowth?

   -Can bleached corals serve as settlement surfaces for turf algae?

    -What causes disease in corals?

OTHER QUESTIONS:

   -How long does it take for algal succession to occur, following colonization of a bare surface?

    -How many species are present in the turf community?

    -Is turf algal overgrowth of corals a common natural phenomenon or is it the result of a stressed system?

    -How does this coral/algal interaction change over time? seasons?

    - Can we use molecular techniques to identify mixed species samples of algal turf?