Function of Funnel-Shaped Coral Growth in a High-Sedimentation Environment

Authors

Bernhard Riegl, Universität Wien - Austria; University of Cape Town - South AfricaFollow
Carlton Heine, Duke University; University of Cape Town - South Africa
George M. Branch, University of Cape Town - South Africa

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-31-1996

Publication Title

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Keywords

Coral, Sediment, Shape, Ecology, South Africa

ISSN

0171-8630

Volume

145

First Page

87

Last Page

93

Abstract

Advantages and disadvantages of a funnel-shaped growth in 2 coral species (Acropora clathrata, Turbinaria peltata) in a high-sedimentation environment (Natal, South Africa) were observed in the field and modeled in a flow tank. Funnel-shaped growth serves different purposes in different hydrographic settings. In calm waters with little currents (in our case deep reef areas, 18 to 25 m) funnel-shaped colonies served as 'sacrificial sediment traps': all sediment trapped inside the funnel was directed towards the centre, where it was concentrated. There, tissues underwent necroses, but all other tissues remained sediment free and healthy. In areas with high currents (in our case shallower reef areas with high surge, 8 to 14 m) funnels tended to be self-cleaning. By a process of vortex shedding, mass replacement of fluid within the funnel also led to the removal of all sediment. Current speeds between 30 and 90 cm s^-1 were enough to clean the funnels of 3 experimental grain sizes (coarse, fine, medium sand).

Comments

©Inter-Research 1996

NSUWorks Citation

Bernhard Riegl, Carlton Heine, and George M. Branch. 1996. Function of Funnel-Shaped Coral Growth in a High-Sedimentation Environment .Marine Ecology Progress Series : 87 -93. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/336.

ORCID ID

0000-0002-6003-9324

ResearcherID

F-8807-2011

DOI

10.3354/meps145087