Kurt Bryant B. Bacharo, Mercer R. Brugler
With a maximum sustained wind speed of 195 kmh−1 and wind gusts of 270 kmh−1, the December 2021 super typhoon Rai (locally named Odette) caused significant damage to the Philippines shallow-water reefs. Herein, we report observations of the typhoon’s impact on black coral communities that previously occupied the shallow-water reefs (< 20 m depth) of Mactan Island in central Philippines. Surveys were conducted in March and May 2022 at sites where black corals were previously found to be diverse and abundant. Our post-observations only documented members of two genera (Rhipidipathes Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857 and Cirrhipathes de Blainville, 1830); thus, the previously documented shallow-water species of Antipathes Pallas, 1766, Myriopathes Opresko, 2001, and Stichopathes Brook, 1889, were most likely dislodged or smothered during the onslaught of super typhoon Rai. While these observations suggest a considerable impact of the typhoon in shallow waters, the presence of several juvenile whip black corals growing in crevices and on the walls of overhangs cannot be overlooked. Exploration of the deeper portion of the reef revealed the persistence of numerous adult colonies of branching black corals suggesting that the impact of the typhoon was not as severe in deeper waters. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung 2026.
Marine Biology Section, Department of Biology, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, 6000, Philippines; Department of Natural Sciences, University of South Carolina Beaufort, 1100 Boundary Street, Beaufort, 29902, SC, United States; Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79 Street, New York, 10024, NY, United States; Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20560, United States; Present Address: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Okinawa, Nishihara, 903-0213, Japan
