Table S2. Table of hypotheses used to systematically explore implications of significant effects of coral category (A = Absent; C = Change; P = Present) on
response variables (Acropora presence, recruitment, diversity, substratum depth, coral canopy depth, coral canopy height, and substratum suitability).
Hypothesis
Response variable
Substratum
depth
Colonization in
C facilitated by
deeper water
Hypothesis
supported
Coral canopy
depth
Not possible
based on results
for substratum
depth
Coral canopy
height
Coral growth in
A not able to
match canopy
height in C
Hypothesis
supported
Substratum
suitability
Coral not present in
A due to lack of
suitable substrate
Change <
Absent
Water depth did
not influence
colonization in C
Coral species in A
have not grown
vertically to the
same extent as
corals in C
Hypothesis
supported
Coral growth in
C less than in A
Coral not present in
A due to factors
other than substrate
suitability
Change =
Absent
Water depth did
not influence
colonization of
corals
No difference in
the vertical
growth of corals
in A and C
Coral growth in
A equal to that
in C
Change >
Present
Water depth did
not influence
coral distribution
prior to
subsidence
Hypothesis
supported
Live coral surface
in C has not yet
caught up to depth
in P
Hypothesis
supported
Coral growth in
C faster than in
P
Substratum
suitability did not
affect whether coral
recruited and grew
in C
Hypothesis
supported
Low substrate
suitability in P
acceptable for coral
colonization
Change >
Absent
Recruitment
Diversity
Areas with higher
recruitment were
in locations where
hard coral
expanded and
colonized
Increase in coral
cover due to higher
diversity of corals;
OR expansion of
hard coral led to
higher diversity
coral
High species
diversity not a
precursor to
expansion of coral;
OR coral expansion
accomplished by
few species
Hypothesis
supported
Differences in
species diversity
not a causative
factor of differences
in coral abundance
Acropora, expanded
into newly available
areas before other
species
Hypothesis
supported
Newly available
space in C
facilitated
colonization by
many species
Acropora expanded
into C. In P,
Acropora has been
replaced by other
species
Expansion of
coral by
vegetative
growth, or, high
recruitment led to
expansion and has
now lessened
Hypothesis
supported
Differences in
recruitment not a
causative factor
for differences in
abundance of
coral between
groups
Newly available
space in C
allowed higher
recruitment to
occur
Acropora presence
Expansion of hard
coral occurred by
species other than
Acropora
Acropora is equally
likely to be present in
C as in A
Change <
Present
Shallower water
in C prevented
coral
proliferation
prior to
subsidence; or
subsidence
facilitated coral
expansion
Water depth did
not influence
coral distribution
prior to
subsidence
More likely to
have historical
factors
influencing
vertical growth of
canopy in P
Coral growth in
C too slow to
match canopy
height in P,
possibly due to
time delays
from
recruitment in C
Substrate in C less
suitable than in P.
Conditions in C
improved by
increase in water
depth.
Areas with longer
established coral
canopy facilitated
coral recruitment
Species diversity in
C has not equalled
that in P Weak
support
Acropora presence in
C has not reached
same level as in P
Growth of coral in
C has been
sufficient to
match the depth
of the live coral
canopy in P
Coral growth in
C fast enough to
achieve same
canopy height
as in P
Hypothesis
supported
Substrate was
equally suitable in
C and P
Hypothesis
supported
Similar biological
environmental
features in the C
and P result in
similar rates of
recruitment
Hypothesis
supported
Similar biological
or environmental
features in C and P
result in similar
levels of diversity
Hypothesis
supported
Acropora has
colonized into C to
the same extent as in
P
Hypothesis
supported
Absent >
present
Shallow water
does not limit
the distribution
of hard coral in
A
Rapid coral
growth in A
and/or death in
P
Low substrate
suitability in P
acceptable for coral
colonization.
Not possible based on
study design
Shallow water in
A limits the
distribution of
hard coral
Coral growth in
A not able to
match canopy
height in P
Hypothesis
supported
Lack of coral in A
due to low substrate
suitability
Higher
availability of
space in A allows
higher recruitment
to occur
Hypothesis
supported
Increased habitat
complexity in P
allows increased
recruitment; OR
environmental
factors in A
preclude high
recruitment
Higher availability
of space in A
allows more species
to occur than in P
Absent <
present
Corals in A have
not grown
vertically to the
same extent as in
P
Hypothesis
supported
Not possible
based on study
design
Increased habitat
complexity in P
allows increased
species diversity
OR environmental
factors in A
preclude high
diversity
Ecological factors
prevented Acropora
from becoming
established in A; OR
there had been
insufficient time
since subsidence for
Acropora to establish
in A
Hypothesis
supported
Change =
Present
2
Absent =
Present
Shallow water
does not limit
the distribution
of hard coral in
A
Hypothesis
supported
Not possible
based on study
design
Coral growth in
A and/or death
in P
Substratum
suitability did not
affect whether coral
could survive in A
Hypothesis
supported
Different habitat
features do not
influence
recruitment; OR
recruitment does
not influence
abundance of hard
corals
Hypothesis
supported
Diversity similar
between
communities which
have not changed
identity; or,
diversity did not
influence coral
presence for sites
established for
similar durations
Hypothesis
supported
Greater occurrence of
hard coral in P due to
genera other than
Acropora
3