Short Term Growth Rate of Acropora downingi in the Coral Reef of Hengam Island, the Persian Gulf

In the Persian Gulf, Acropora- dominated coral reefs have been damaged by global and local disturbances. Inversion of coral colonies mostly occur due to anchoring and fishing in many coral reefs, particularly those established nearby human societies, like the coral reef of Hengam Island, in the Persian Gulf. The short term growth rates (weight increment) of inversely and normally transplanted colony fragments of Acropora downingi, the dominant species of the coral reef of Hengam Island, were compared in autumn 2011. Transplants showed self-attachment to substrates after a few weeks. Our results showed sub-normal growth rate of inversely transplanted fragments and provided some basic knowledge about the growth rate of A. downingi in a coral reef with a high benthic coverage during a medium thermal season.