“…In fact, in studies where experimental damage to coral tissue was inflicted in the absence of an abiotic or biotic stressor, coral tissue regenerated and overgrew algae that initially had colonized the lesions, suggesting competitive superiority of otherwise healthy coral tissue (Meesters and Bak 1993, Meesters et al 1994, van Woesik 1998. While explicit tests of the physiological effects of sedimentation and low flow on massive Porites were not conducted, their separate negative effects are well-documented and suggest that reductions in metabolism, growth, and survival could have major implications for coralalgal competitive outcomes (Dodge & Vaisnys 1977, Dallmeyer et al 1982, Dodge & Lang 1983, Hubbard & Scaturo 1985, Tomascik & Sander 1985, Hubbard et al 1987, Fabricius 2005).…”