Spatio-temporal variability of coral recruitment on shallow reefs in St. John, US Virgin Islands

► Coral recruitment was assessed over 2 y using tiles at 10 sites along 10 km of the shore of St. John. ► The causes of varying recruitment were explored through correlations with temperature and flow. ► Recruitment varied from east to west in a pattern consistent with a patch depletion model. ► Temperature and flow were of limited value in accounting for variable coral recruitment.