Journal article
The effect of water exchange on bacterioplankton depletion and inorganic nutrient dynamics in coral reef cavities
Coral Reefs, Vol.2(251), pp.23-36
2006
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Source: InCites
Abstract
<p>We studied the effect of water exchange on the depletion (or accumulation) of bacterioplankton, dissolved organic matter and inorganic nutrients in small open framework cavities (50–70 l) at 15 m depth on the coral reef along Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. The bacterioplankton removal rate in cavities increased with increasing water exchange rates up to a threshold of 0.0045 s<sup>−1</sup>, reaching values of 50–100 mg C m<sup>−2</sup> total interior cavity surface area (CSA) per day. Beyond the threshold, bacterioplankton removal dropped. The cryptic community is apparently adapted to the average water exchange in these cavities (0.0041 s<sup>−1</sup>). Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), nitrate + nitrite (NO<sub> <em>x</em> </sub>) in particular, accumulated in cavity water and the accumulation decreased with increasing water exchange. Net NO<sub> <em>x</em> </sub> effluxes exceeded net DIN effluxes from cavities (average efflux rate of 1.9 mmol NO<sub> <em>x</em> </sub> vs. 0.8 mmol DIN m<sup>−2</sup> interior CSA per day). The difference is ascribed to net ammonium losses (NH<sub>4</sub>) in cavities at reef concentrations >0.025 μM NH<sub>4</sub>, possibly due to enhanced nitrification. Dissolved inorganic phosphate accumulated in cavities, but was not related to water exchange. The cryptic biota in cavities depend on water exchange for optimization of consumption of bacterioplankton and removal of inorganic nitrogen. Coral cavities are an evident sink of bacterioplankton and a source of NO<sub> <em>x</em> </sub>and PO <sub>4</sub> <sup>3−</sup> .</p>
Details
- Title
- The effect of water exchange on bacterioplankton depletion and inorganic nutrient dynamics in coral reef cavities
- Creators
- F C van Duyl - Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea ResearchSander R Scheffers - Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea ResearchF IM Thomas - University of South FloridaM Driscoll - University of South Florida
- Publication Details
- Coral Reefs, Vol.2(251), pp.23-36
- Identifiers
- 2982; 991012820366302368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Marine Ecology Research Centre; School of Environment, Science and Engineering
- Resource Type
- Journal article