Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Growth Characteristics Of Reef-Building Corals Within And External To A Naval Ordinance Range: Vieques, Puerto Rico, Richard E. Dodge
Growth Characteristics Of Reef-Building Corals Within And External To A Naval Ordinance Range: Vieques, Puerto Rico, Richard E. Dodge
Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures
The skeletal growth of reef·building corals is known to be sensitive to the environment. In particular, high levels of sedimentation and turbidity lead to decreased growth rate, suppressed growth variation, and, ultimately, coral death because of reduced illumination necessary to zooxanthellae and/or increased energy expenditure by the coral animal to remove impacted sediments.
To assess the effect of Naval Ordnance Range usage at Vieques, Puerto Rico, specimens of Montastrea annulariswere collected from reefs adjacent to and removed from the range area. Growth was measured from annual increments revealed by X-radiography of medial slabs of the coral skeletons. Mean growth …