octocoral richness decreased by almost 50% from 12
genera per site (36 genera per reef) on the reef with the
lowest WQI (best water quality) to 7 genera per site
(19 genera per reef) on the reefs with highest WQI,
whereas 13–16 genera per site (28–42 genera per reef)
were recorded in PC. For fish, richness was similar but
total relative abundances differed between regions (higher
in PC than WT); however there was almost equally
strong evidence that total abundances declined along
the water quality gradient towards reefs with higher
nutrient and sediment loads.