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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

1996

Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Articles 1 - 6 of 6

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Function Of Funnel-Shaped Coral Growth In A High-Sedimentation Environment, Bernhard Riegl, Carlton Heine, George M. Branch Dec 1996

Function Of Funnel-Shaped Coral Growth In A High-Sedimentation Environment, Bernhard Riegl, Carlton Heine, George M. Branch

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

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 …


Observation Of Spatial Variability Of Diurnal Thermocline And Rain-Formed Halocline In The Western Pacific Warm Pool, Alexander Soloviev, Roger Lukas Nov 1996

Observation Of Spatial Variability Of Diurnal Thermocline And Rain-Formed Halocline In The Western Pacific Warm Pool, Alexander Soloviev, Roger Lukas

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

High-resolution measurements of temperature and salinity were made in the near-surface layer of the ocean during the Tropical Oceans-Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment, using probes mounted on the bow of the R/V Moana Wave. Because of surface waves and pitching of the vessel, the bow probes profiled the near-surface layer of the ocean within depths of 0–4.0 m. In the near-surface layer of the ocean in the western Pacific warm pool, strong variability of temperature and salinity produced by diurnal heating and/or rain was often observed. The contoured density field revealed cases of pronounced spatial variability. The shallow …


Species Composition, Abundance, And Vertical Distribution Of The Stomiid (Pisces: Stomiiformes) Fish Assemblage Of The Gulf Of Mexico, Tracey Sutton, T. L. Hopkins Nov 1996

Species Composition, Abundance, And Vertical Distribution Of The Stomiid (Pisces: Stomiiformes) Fish Assemblage Of The Gulf Of Mexico, Tracey Sutton, T. L. Hopkins

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Species composition, abundance, and vertical distribution of the stomiid fish assemblage were investigated in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, a low-latitude, oligotrophic oceanic ecosystem. Seventy-two described species, representing 18 genera, and one undescribed species were identified from 1155 trawl samples. With an additional 10 species reported elsewhere, the stomiid species number now known equals 83, making the Stomiidae the most diverse fish family in the Gulf of Mexico. The assemblage was dominated by three species,Photostomias guernei, Chauliodus sloani and Stomias affinis. These species, as well as four other common species, exhibited an asynchronous diel vertical migration pattern (450–900 …


Hermatypic Coral Fauna Of Subtropical Southeast Africa: A Checklist, Bernhard Riegl Oct 1996

Hermatypic Coral Fauna Of Subtropical Southeast Africa: A Checklist, Bernhard Riegl

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

The South African hermatypic coral fauna consists of 96 species in 42 scleractinian genera, one stoloniferous octocoral genus (Tubipora), and one hermatypic hydrocoral genus (Millepora). There are more species in southern Mozambique, with 151 species in 49 scleractinian genera, one stoloniferous octocoral (Tubipora musica L.), and one hydrocoral (Millepora exaesa [Forskal)). The eastern African coral faunas of Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania,
Mozambique, and South Africa are compared and Southeast Africa distinguished
as a biogeographic subregion, with six endemic species. Patterns of attenuation and species composition are described and compared with those on the eastern boundaries …


Ecology And Behavior Of Maxillipius Commensalis, A Gorgonophile Amphipod From Madang, Papua New Guinea (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Maxillipiidae), James Darwin Thomas Jan 1996

Ecology And Behavior Of Maxillipius Commensalis, A Gorgonophile Amphipod From Madang, Papua New Guinea (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Maxillipiidae), James Darwin Thomas

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Maxillipius commensalis Lowry, is reported as an ectocommensal on arborescent gorgonaceans from coral reefs at Madang, Papua New Guinea. The family is reviewed and the male of this species is described. In-situ behavior studies show the amphipods to crowd close together in large numbers on one side of a gorgonian stalk. The terminal articles of the sixth pereopods are greatly elongated and whip-like and are waved at the sides in a circular motion, possibly facilitating spacing or feeding. When disturbed, the amphipods react en masse as a coherent group rather than as individuals.


A 240-Year Stable Oxygen And Carbon Isotopic Record In A Coral From South Florida: Implications For The Prediction Of Precipitation In Southern Florida, Peter Koenraad Swart, Richard E. Dodge, Harold J. Hudson Jan 1996

A 240-Year Stable Oxygen And Carbon Isotopic Record In A Coral From South Florida: Implications For The Prediction Of Precipitation In Southern Florida, Peter Koenraad Swart, Richard E. Dodge, Harold J. Hudson

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

This study reports on the δ18O and δ13C composition of the skeleton from a 240-year-old specimen of Montastraea faveolata growing in Biscayne National Park, South Florida. Annual variations in the δ18O of the skeleton deposited during the summer months show a bimodal correlation with summer rainfall. During wetter years, the δ18O of the coral skeleton and the amount of precipitation during the summer months are inversely correlated (r = -0. 7) reflecting dilution of the seawater by meteoric water lower in δ18O. During years in which summer rainfall is less …