11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University
11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University
11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University
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Poster Mini-Symposium 19: Biogeochemical Cycles in Coral Reef Environments<br />
19.778<br />
Natural Organic Matter Release by Hermatypic Corals of the Northern Red Sea<br />
Malik NAUMANN* 1 , Andreas HAAS 1 , Florian MAYER 1 , Christoph MAYR 2 , Christian<br />
WILD 1<br />
1 Coral Reef Ecology Work Group (CORE), GeoBio-Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-<br />
Universität München, München, Germany, 2 GeoBio-Center & Department of Earth and<br />
Environmental Science, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany<br />
Quantification of organic matter (OM) release by corals represents the essential basis of<br />
studies investigating the ecological role and fate of coral-derived OM. However, there is<br />
very few information available on OM release rates by corals, especially in respect of<br />
genus specificity, vertical variability and seasonality. This study presents the first results<br />
of extensive quantification experiments conducted in high spatial and temporal resolution<br />
with all dominant hermatypic coral genera from Northern Red Sea fringing reefs, the<br />
globally most common type of warm water coral reefs. Results were related to benthic<br />
coverage by the respective corals as determined from parallel reef transect surveys<br />
covering reef areas shallower than 20 m water depth. Particulate organic matter (POM)<br />
and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) release of Acropora, Favites, Fungia, Millepora,<br />
Pocillopora and Stylophora colonies were quantified using beaker incubations during<br />
several expeditions at different seasons to Aqaba, Jordan. Particulate organic carbon<br />
(POC) and particulate nitrogen (PN) release rates were highly variable between coral<br />
genera with maximum values of 7.8 mg C and 0.5 mg N m-2 coral area h-1 observed for<br />
the genus Stylophora (5 % benthic coverage). Quantification of DOC release was affected<br />
by simultaneous uptake during beaker incubations. However, net DOC release was<br />
measured for the genera Acropora, Favites, Fungia and Millepora. This stimulated<br />
planktonic microbial oxygen consumption (up to 6-fold) and DOC turnover (up to 17fold),<br />
thereby indicating fast degradation of coral-derived OM in reef waters. Calculated<br />
daily POC and PN release by dominant corals in the investigated reef accounted for 16.1<br />
mg C and 1.2 mg N m-2 reef area or 430 ml of mucus m-2 d-1. These data from fringing<br />
reefs are in the same range as release rates measured for platform reef systems, thus<br />
implying a general and established ecological function of OM release by reef building<br />
corals.<br />
19.779<br />
Picoplankton Enrichment in Coral Mucus Aggregates: Enhanced Access Of<br />
Planktonic Biomass To Reef Benthos<br />
Malik NAUMANN* 1 , Claudio RICHTER 2 , Mohammad AL-ZIBDAH 3 , Christian<br />
WILD 1<br />
1 Coral Reef Ecology Work Group (CORE), GeoBio-Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-<br />
Universität München, München, Germany, 2 Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT),<br />
Bremen, Germany, 3 Marine Science Station, Yarmouk <strong>University</strong>, Aqaba, Jordan<br />
The planktonic community of coral reef waters is dominated by phototrophic<br />
picoplankton organisms (e.g. the cyanobacterium Synechococcus), which often account<br />
for half of the total planktonic biomass. Their extremely small size prevents fast<br />
sedimentation to the seafloor and consumption by most filter-feeding benthic reef<br />
organisms, thereby implying rather weak contribution of picoplankton to benthic<br />
metabolism and material cycling in coral reefs. Here, we investigate if picoplankton<br />
entanglement in coral mucus may enhance picoplankton flux to the benthos. Retention of<br />
picoplanktonic cyanobacteria in mucus from scleractinian corals was quantified in the<br />
laboratory and in the field. Freshly collected mucus from the mushroom coral Fungia<br />
already contained substantial background levels of cyanobacteria (1.0 ± 0.2 x 104 cells<br />
ml-1) of pelagic and/or symbiotic origin. Laboratory experiments with rotating chambers<br />
showed that 15 to 43 % of the initial Synechococcus population was cleared within 1 h<br />
when mucus was present, while mucus-free controls revealed that clearance due to cell<br />
clumping accounted for only 3 - 8 %. Additional incubation experiments in flow-through<br />
tanks displayed 15-fold picoplankton enrichment in aged mucus aggregates. Aged mucus<br />
aggregates collected in-situ from branching colonies of the staghorn coral Acropora spp.<br />
exhibited high cyanobacteria concentrations of up to 4.6 x 10 6 cells ml -1 compared to 1.6<br />
± 0.9 x 10 4 cells ml -1 in the surrounding water. The ensuing rapid sedimentation (mean:<br />
0.5 cm s -1 ) of the enriched aggregates hints to coral mucus as a so far overlooked vector<br />
for picoplankton, thereby enhancing pelagic-benthic coupling near coral reefs.<br />
19.780<br />
Trophic Analysis Of The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Coral Reef<br />
Ecosystem Using Stable Isotopes<br />
Anna HILTING* 1 , Carolyn CURRIN 1 , Randy KOSAKI 2<br />
1 NOS/CCFHR, NOAA, Beaufort, NC, 2 NOS/OOCRM, NOAA, Honolulu, HI<br />
Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, a<br />
unique coral reef ecosystem dominated by apex predators with few local anthropogenic<br />
stressors, provides a relatively pristine model to which disturbed coral reef ecosystems may be<br />
compared. Stable isotope analysis of atoll and seamount communities in the Monument<br />
provided evidence for interactions among trophic levels and for the ratio of benthic<br />
algal/phytoplankton productivity supporting fish production. The average 13C value of<br />
benthic algal producers (-9.43‰) was enriched by 14‰ compared to the average phytoplankton<br />
value (-23.4‰). The 13C averages of all consumer taxa are at least 4.5‰ more enriched in<br />
13C than phytoplankton and at least 2.5‰ more depleted in 13C than benthic algae. The<br />
average apex predator 13C value was -14.55‰, only 5‰ less than the average value of<br />
benthic algal producers, suggesting that benthic algae are an important contributor to the<br />
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands food chain. Average 13C values of the apex predator taxa<br />
(sharks, jacks and the snapper, Aprion virescens) varied by about 1‰, while mean 15N values<br />
varied by about 3‰. Results of 15N analysis for the tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier (12.09‰)<br />
were distinct from those of other apex predators: Caranx ignobilis (10.53‰), Carcharhinus<br />
galapagensis (10.27‰), Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos (10.03‰), Caranx melampygus<br />
(9.93‰), and Aprion virescens (9.35‰). The average 15N value of herbivorous fish was<br />
6.30‰, 4.1‰ enriched compared to the average value (2.2‰) of the measured primary<br />
producers. Presuming an average enrichment of 3‰ per trophic level, apex predators were<br />
feeding near the second and third trophic levels.<br />
19.781<br />
Hemichordata: Enteropneusta (Acorn Worm) Bioturbation: Maintaining And Facilitating<br />
The Balance Of Coral Reef Biogeochemical Cycles<br />
Kimberly TAKAGI* 1 , Makoto TSUCHIYA 2<br />
1 Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, <strong>University</strong> of the Ryukyus, Nakagusuku-son,<br />
Okinawa, Japan, 2 Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, <strong>University</strong> of the Ryukyus,<br />
Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan<br />
Bioturbation is often associated with soil enrichment as a result of incresases in elemental<br />
turnover, organic matter (OM) degradation and content. However, if a bio-turbating organism<br />
can also “impoverish” OM rich environments, then it can aid in maintaining the biogeochemical<br />
balance within a system. In Bise, Okinawa, Japan, Hemichordata: Enteropneusta (acorn worms)<br />
are found at densities up to 24 individuals m -2 . In addition, it inhabits the sandy beach, seagrass<br />
and coral and seagrass environments. As such, we assert that the acorn worm acts as a<br />
“biopurifier,” and impoverishes the coral reef ecosystem of excess nutrients and organic matter.<br />
Through the use of fatty acid (FA) biomarkers, C:N, and nutrient analysis, we conducted in situ<br />
studies and ex situ experiments. We analyzed sediments from areas inhabited by, not inhabited<br />
by, and fecal casts of the acorn worm. In addition, seawater samples from inhabited and not<br />
inhabited areas were analyzed for total nitrates and ammonium concentrations. Field-based<br />
results confirm that acorn worms assimilate ‘reactive’ organic matter and subsequently<br />
biopurify its surrounding sediments in the beach habitat. Total nitrates also show acorn worm<br />
presence mitigates the release of nitrates into the water column and sediments. However, as the<br />
overall FA contribution, total organic carbon and total organic matter contents changed little in<br />
the seagrass and coral/ seagrass environments, rather than biopurify, acorn worm bioturbation<br />
aids in facilitating the maintenance of the biogeochemical balance within the coral reef<br />
ecosystem.<br />
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