Effects of Sediment on the Energy Budgets of Four Scleratinian (Bourne 1900) and Five Alcyonacean (Lamouroux 1816) Corals

Authors

Bernhard Riegl, University of Cape Town - South Africa; Oceanographic Research Institute - South AfricaFollow
George M. Branch, University of Cape Town - South Africa

ORCID

0000-0002-6003-9324

ResearcherID

F-8807-2011

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

ISSN

0022-0981

Publication Date

3-31-1995

Keywords

Effects of sediment, Physiology, Energy budge, Mucus, Scleractinia, Alcyonacea, Coral, Stress, Model

Abstract

The physiological reactions to sediment of four scleractinia and five alcyonacea from South Africa were observed in the laboratory. Species tested were Favia favus Forskal, Favites pentagona Esper, Platygyra daedalea Ellis & Solander, Gyrosmilia interrupta Ehrenberg, Lobophytum depressum Tixier-Durivault,Lobophytum venustum Tixier-Durivault, Sinularia dura (Pratt), Sinularia leptoclados (Ehrenberg) andSarcophyton glaucum (Quoy & Gaimard). Natural sedimentation levels and light conditions were simulated. Photosynthetic carbon production and respiration were measured by respirometry. Loss of fixed carbon through mucus production was measured directly by filtration. The results were used to model daily energy budgets for these species. One set of models allowed for 50% PARs (photosynthetically active radiation at the surface), another set of models allowed for 25% PARs. The models showed severely diminished productivity and decreased respiration under sedimented conditions. Production/respiration () ratios of all species were above 1 in the absence of sediment and dropped below unity when the corals were subjected to sedimentation. Although overall respiration dropped, its demand upon the also diminished amount of photosynthetically produced carbon rose dramatically. Without sediment, mucus output averaged 35% of daily respiration; this rose to 65% when sediment was applied. Sediment affects coral metabolism by decreasing photosynthetic production, increasing relative respiration and increasing carbon-loss through greater mucus output.

DOI

10.1016/0022-0981(94)00164-9

Volume

186

Issue

2

First Page

259

Last Page

275

Comments

©1995 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

NSUWorks Citation

Bernhard Riegl and George M. Branch. 1995. Effects of Sediment on the Energy Budgets of Four Scleratinian (Bourne 1900) and Five Alcyonacean (Lamouroux 1816) Corals .Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology , (2) : 259 -275. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/338.