Hermatypic corals of Vanuatu

Hermatypic coral communities on the coral reefs of Vanuatu were examined at 22 locations, covering a wide range of environments along the length of the island arc, in 1988. The reefs around nine islands (Ureparapara, Reef Islands, Gaua, Espiritu Santo, Pentecost, Cook's Reef, Efate, Tanna and Aneityum) were surveyed. An accumulative inventory of hermatypic corals at each location was compiled until no further species were recorded. Where there appeared to be a significant difference between the appearance of species at Vanuatu and the same species on the Great Barrier Reef, specimens were collected for further study.
The objective of this component of the survey was to compile an accumulative species inventory of hermatypic corals, with the aim of reaching a complete species list for Vanuatu.
This research was a component of a survey of Vanuatu marine resources conducted in March/April 1988 and was funded by the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau.The overall objectives of the survey were:1. to survey and describe the shallow water reef habitats from selected islands of Vanuatu, adequately covering geographical and environmental variation2. to survey and describe the marine habitats around the shores of Malakula, including offshore islands3. to derive a coastal management plan for Malakula and offshore islands which can serve as a basis for Coastal Zone Management plans for the rest of the country4. to train Ni-Vanuatu personnel in marine survey and marine conservation methods

1988年，研究人员对瓦努阿图珊瑚礁上的造礁珊瑚（hermatypic coral）群落展开系统性调查，共设置22个采样点位，覆盖了该岛弧沿线各类广泛的环境梯度。本次调查覆盖瓦努阿图9座岛屿周边的礁体，分别为乌雷帕拉帕拉岛（Ureparapara）、礁群岛（Reef Islands）、高阿岛（Gaua）、圣埃斯皮里图岛（Espiritu Santo）、彭特科斯特岛（Pentecost）、库克礁（Cook's Reef）、埃法特岛（Efate）、塔纳岛（Tanna）以及安尼蒂乌姆岛（Aneityum）。研究人员在每个采样点逐步累积记录造礁珊瑚物种，直至未再观测到新物种为止。若瓦努阿图海域的珊瑚物种外观与大堡礁（Great Barrier Reef）的同类物种存在显著差异，则会采集标本开展进一步研究。

本次调查子课题的核心目标为构建瓦努阿图造礁珊瑚的累积物种名录，以期最终形成完整的瓦努阿图造礁珊瑚物种清单。

本项研究为1988年3至4月开展的瓦努阿图海洋资源调查的组成部分，由澳大利亚国际发展援助局（Australian International Development Assistance Bureau）资助。本次整体调查的总体目标包括：
1. 对瓦努阿图选定岛屿的浅海礁生境开展调查与描述，充分覆盖区域地理与环境异质性；
2. 对马拉库拉岛（Malakula）沿岸及周边离岸岛屿的海洋生境开展调查与描述；
3. 为马拉库拉岛及其离岸岛屿制定沿海管理规划，以此作为该国其余地区海岸带管理计划的参考范本；
4. 对瓦努阿图籍人员开展海洋调查与海洋保护方法的专业培训。