Reef-Building Coral Skeletons as Chemical Pollution (Phosphorus) Indicators

Authors

Richard E. Dodge, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
T. D. Jickells, Bermuda Biological Station - United Kingdom
Anthony H. Knap, Bermuda Biological Station - United Kingdom
S. Boyd, Bermuda Biological Station - United Kingdom
R. P.M. Bak, Caribbean Marine Biological Institute - Curacao, The Netherlands

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Marine Pollution Bulletin

ISSN

0025-326X

Publication Date

5-1984

Keywords

Coral reefs, Water pollution (chemical)

Abstract

The inorganic and total phosphorus concentrations of the skeleton of reef-building corals have been determined on specimens from Bermuda, St Croix and Curacao. Concentrations determined on sub-samples dated by density band growth increments indicate that a record of seawater phosphorus is preserved which, in certain cases, is consistent with the location and time history of sewage and other phorphorus pollution episodes.

DOI

10.1016/0025-326X(84)90317-5

Volume

15

Issue

5

First Page

178

Last Page

187

Comments

©1984 Pergamon Press Ltd.

Additional Comments

NOAA grant #: NA 80 RAD 00045

NSUWorks Citation

Dodge, Richard E., T. D. Jickells, Anthony H. Knap, S. Boyd, and R. P. M. Bak. 1984. "Reef-building coral skeletons as chemical pollution (phosphorus) indicators." Marine Pollution Bulletin no. 15 (5):178-187. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0025-326X(84)90317-5.