Patterns of association and interactions between juvenile corals and macroalgae in the Caribbean
- UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Shauna N. Slingsby (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )
- Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/
Abstract: Caribbean coral reefs have shifted from coral to macroalgal dominated communities
within the past two decades. Macroalgae have been shown to affect adult coral colonies
by five mechanisms: tissue encroachment, overshading, physical abrasion, reduced water
flow, and allelochemicals. It has been suspected that macroalgae may interfere with
juvenile coral growth and survivorship. The patterns of association between juvenile
corals and macroalgae were investigated and a manipulative experiment was conducted
to test the effects of particular functional forms of macroalgae on juvenile coral fitness.
Results indicated there may be a functional relationship between the density of newly
settled corals and macroalgal percent cover and height in the Caribbean. Nutrient
concentrations were negatively correlated to macroalgal abundance and juvenile coral
density. The experimental results indicated that juvenile coral taxa had species-specific
responses to interactions with macroalgae but that different functional forms of
macroalgae did not have significantly different effects on juvenile coral growth. It was
concluded that the abundance and fitness of juvenile corals are compromised in coral reef
communities with prolific macroalgae.
Patterns of association and interactions between juvenile corals and macroalgae in the Caribbean
PDF (Portable Document Format)
458 KB
Created on 1/1/2009
Views: 1785
Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science
- Language: English
- Date: 2009
- Keywords
- Algae--Caribbean Area, Algology--Caribbean Area, Coral reef ecology--Caribbean Area, Coral reefs and islands--Caribbean
- Subjects
- Coral reef ecology -- Caribbean Area
- Coral reefs and islands -- Caribbean
- Algae -- Caribbean Area
- Algology -- Caribbean Area
- Coral reef ecology -- Caribbean Area