Size and Ecology of a Giant Pavona clavus Coral Colony in the Kingdom of Tonga

Some individual coral colonies can grow to immense sizes and survive for centuries, offering rare insight into how corals persist over long time scales. This study documents one of the largest coral colonies ever recorded—a colossal Pavona clavus in Tonga—and shows that, despite being dominated by a single species, it supports fish communities and ecosystem functions comparable to typical nearby reefs. These findings suggest that giant coral colonies may play an important role as resilient habitats and potential refuges in a changing ocean.