Sunlight and water transparency: cornerstones in coral research

Sunlight and water transparency: cornerstones in coral research

Reef-building corals throughout the world are considered endangered. The evidence is a decline in coral health and reduced coral cover. Competing hypotheses for the cause of coral loss include removal of grazers, nutrient enrichment, disease, coral bleaching, increase in temperature, and excess ligh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology Vol. 268; no. 2; pp. 171 - 183
Main Authors: Yentsch, C.S, Yentsch, C.M, Cullen, J.J, Lapointe, B, Phinney, D.A, Yentsch, S.W
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier B.V 28-02-2002
Subjects:
Compensation intensity
K (m −1)
Light-limitation
Ocean optics
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Scleractinia
Zooxanthellae
ASW, USA, Florida
USA, Florida
Light-limitation
Zooxanthellae
Ocean optics
Compensation intensity
K (m −1)
Photosynthesis
Respiration
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Summary:Reef-building corals throughout the world are considered endangered. The evidence is a decline in coral health and reduced coral cover. Competing hypotheses for the cause of coral loss include removal of grazers, nutrient enrichment, disease, coral bleaching, increase in temperature, and excess light/ultraviolet exposure. We suggest that light limitation as a second order effect of anthropogenic activity (e.g. sediment resuspension and nutrient enrichment) is a valid and tractable hypothesis. This experimental field and laboratory study demonstrates that corals of the Florida reefs are functioning close to the compensation point where respiration (of coral polyp plus zooxanthellae) consumes the products of photosynthesis of the zooxanthellae, with little if any remaining for growth. We extend this work into an optical nomograph that is useful for predicting coral loss and recovery. The nomograph is designed to elucidate compensation depth for waters of various transparencies.
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ISSN:0022-0981
1879-1697
DOI:10.1016/S0022-0981(01)00379-3