3.2.3. Coral

Total coral cover did not change between 2000 (45.1 ± 2.5%) and 2018 (38.6 ± 2.9%) (matched pair Wilcoxon signed-rank; *p* = 0.0810) (Figures 4 and 5). Neither dominant reef-building species (i.e., *Porites compressa* nor *Montipora capitata*) experienced a significant change in coverage percent. *Porites compressa* was found to cover 33.6 ± 2.3% and 33.7 ± 2.8% of the reef (*p* = 0.8784) and *M. capitata* was found to cover 4.4 ± 0.6% and 4.2 ± 1.2% (*p* = 0.7836) in 2000 and 2018, respectively. *Porites lobata* (5 ± 0.8%, *p* < 0.0001), *Pocillopora meandrina* (0.16 ± 0.4%, *p* = 0.1590), and *Lobactis scutaria* (0.16 ± 0.1%, *p* = 0.1590) were all present in the 2000 survey, but absent in 2018. *Lobactis scuatria* was visually observed at the site; however, it was not present on survey transects (personal observation, K.A.B., July 2018). *Pocillopora damicornis* decreased significantly from 1.8 ± 0.3% to 0.25 ± 0.1% from 2000 to 2018 (*p* = 0.0005). *Leptastrea purpurea* was not present in the 2000 survey but represented 0.49 ± 0.3% of the total cover in 2018 (*p* = 0.0241).

Spatial variations between 2000 and 2018 were also observed (Figure 5). The percent of coral cover was consistent between sections of the reef in 2000, whereas the percent of coral cover increased at the southern portion of the reef in 2018. In 2018, non-coral substrate was most common at the northern section of the reef, whereas it was more evenly distributed in 2000. *Montipora capitata* prevalence also increased in the southern portion of the reef from 2000 to 2018.
