Table 1.

Results of four-way permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) on factors region (R), period (P), locations (Lo) and reef (re), based on square-root transformed percentage benthic cover data and Bray Curtis similarity index. Asterisks indicate statistically significant values. Df = degrees of freedom, MF = mean of squares, Pseudo-F = variance ratio, P = significance level.

Source	df	MS	Pseudo-F	P
Region, R	2	14,519	2.1232	0.003*
Period, P	2	22,596	13.232	0.001*
Locations (R), Lo	4	4440.5	1.5244	0.037*
RxP	4	5052.8	2.8748	0.006*
Reef (Lo(R)), Re	52	2743.8	2.1389	0.001*
Lo (R) x P	3	1656.8	1.2989	0.197
Reef (Lo(R)) x P	30	1263.7	4.5889	0.001*