Genus-level diversity of scleractinian corals at western Miyako Island and Irabu Island in late 2023

Abstract

Coral reefs support approximately 30% of all marine life, making them some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. However, due to global climate change and human activities, coral reef ecosystems are now facing devastation. Under these circumstances and to support future conservation efforts, it is crucial to document the current state of zooxanthellate scleractinians, primary architects of coral reefs, as accurately and comprehensively as possible. This study reports details genus-level diversity of scleractinian corals in western Miyako Island and Irabu Island in late 2023.