Tropical reefs are dynamic ecosystems that host diverse coral assemblages with different life-history strategies. Here, we quantified how juvenile (<50 mm) coral demographics influenced benthic coral structure in reef flat and reef slope habitats on the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Permanent plots and settlement tiles were monitored every six months for three years in each habitat. T...

Abundance, growth rates and nutrient limitation of the heterotrophic bacteria present in the reef water column and reef cavity water were measured on a fringing reef at Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles). Bacterial in situ growth rates were measured using dialysis bags. Nutrient limitation was measured using bioassays with different amendments of inorganic nutrients (nitrate, ammonium, phosphate) a...

Bioerosion of branched corals was assessed in a fringing reef (Playa Blanca) and a patch reef (Gorgonilla) of Gorgona Island in the tropical eastern Pacific. Cylinder-shaped experimental units (EUs), made from branches of Pocillopora spp., were set 50 cm above the sea bottom for 6, 12 and 18 mo in Playa Blanca (4 zones: Back Reef, Reef-Flat Crest, Reef Front and Reef Slope) and the Gorgonilla p...

4 We investigate the relationship between bleaching induced coral reef degradation and the economies of the U.N. defined small island developing states (SIDS) using panel econometric techniques. We analyze the relationship between this degradation and GDP as a whole, as well as the reef specific activities of tourism and fishing, and find evidence of directionality in these relationships. Speci...

Long-term changes in structure of fish communities on coral reefs infested by the coralfeeding starfish Acanthasterplanci were determined using 20 mZ visual transects. We censused a living coral reef consisting mainly of staghorn Acropora spp. at Saluyama Bay and a dead coral reef with low structural complexlty of coral branches (about 2 yr after A. planci infestation) at Amitori Bay, Iriomote ...

Connectivity has fundamental consequences for the productivity, persistence and management of coral reefs. The area and position of adjacent mangroves and seagrass can affect the demography of reef fish populations and the composition of reefal assemblages. To date, no studies have attempted to partition the influences of these habitats on reef fish assemblages. We used an exploratory seascape ...

Knowledge of coral reef GPP is the foundation for understanding the function of reef systems. GPP sets the maximum energy available to a reef community through autotrophic pathways and ultimately limit the biomass and secondary production of reef consumers [1-3]. Calcification, or the production of carbonate, is directly related to the value of GPP [4]. GPP describes the basic energy production...

Overexploitation is one of the principal threats to coral reef diversity, structure, function, and resilience [1, 2]. Although it is generally held that coral reef fisheries are unsustainable [3-5], little is known of the overall scale of exploitation or which reefs are overfished [6]. Here, on the basis of ecological footprints and a review of exploitation status [7, 8], we report widespread u...

the lipid content and composition of the reef-building coral acropora downingi, the largest coral reef of hengam island, were examined throughout a year. the results showed that the lipid content of a. downingi significantly differs in different seasons (t-test, p< 0.05). depending on the season and spawning times, the lipid content of a. downingi ranged from 16.5 to 37.7 % (dry weight). the to...

the qom formation in southwest kashan in sanandaj-sirjan fore arc basin has a thickness of 190 meters and is composed of medium to thick and massive bedded limestone, marly limestone, sandy limestone, marl and coglomerates. study of these deposits led to recognition of nine microfacies related to a carbonate platform. the high presence of perforate foraminifera in most of the recognized microfa...