In terms of coral, there were significant differences in coral cover and species between the higher basaltic islands and the carbonate atolls. For example, rare branching corals in the main islands achieve abundance on the reefs of the northwest chain. The rare table corals achive greatest abundance and diversity at French Frigate Shoals and 4 adjacet islands in the northwest chain, whereas they are only occasionally seen in the main islands. Although the differences may not have been as pronounced with invertebrates, changes were also noted across the chain. All rights reserved.
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