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Coral Reef Ecosystems

Coral Reef Ecosystems. Our classical view of any ecosystem. Seen as systems which transform energy and process organic matter. Detritivores. Secondary consumers. Primary consumers. Detritus. Primary producers. Seen as systems which transform energy and process organic matter.

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Coral Reef Ecosystems

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  1. Coral Reef Ecosystems

  2. Our classical view of any ecosystem • Seen as systems which transform energy and process organic matter Detritivores Secondary consumers Primary consumers Detritus Primary producers

  3. Seen as systems which transform energy and process organic matter = pathway for material (or carbon) Secondary consumers Detritivores Detritus Primary consumers Primary producers

  4. Seen as systems which transform energy and process organic matter = pathway for energy = pathway for material (or carbon) Heat Heat Secondary consumers Detritivores Heat Heat Heat Detritus Primary consumers Heat Heat Heat Primary producers

  5. Organic veneer of a reef

  6. Measuring Ecosystem Dynamics Net water flow C, N, P, O Lagrangian Control Volume

  7. Measuring Ecosystem Dynamics Time 1 Time 2 Eularian control volume

  8. Useful measures of ecosystem ‘metabolism’ Pg = gross primary productivity (gC/m2/day) P/R = community respiration ratio E = excess production (gC/m2/day)

  9. Fore reef Reef crest Back reef Water column Ocean Outer reef slope Lagoon Pg .2-.8 ? 2-7 2-7 2.6-27 .9-12.9 .01-2 E .01-.65 ? -1-5.1 .3-1.5 -8.7-7.3 -.5-3.4 -1.3-1.4 P/R .9-1.38 ? .5-5.5 1-4 .7-3.2 .7-1.4 .1-1.4

  10. Fore reef Reef crest Back reef Water column Ocean Outer reef slope Lagoon Pg .2-.8 ? 2-7 2-7 2.6-27 .9-12.9 .01-2 E .01-.65 ? -1-5.1 .3-1.5 -8.7-7.3 -.5-3.4 -1.3-1.4 P/R .9-1.38 ? .5-5.5 1-4 .7-3.2 .7-1.4 .1-1.4 Algal turfs Seagrass Macroalgae Macroalgae Corals Microalgae 0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10

  11. How do coral reefs differ from this model? 1. Fluxes– nutrient and otherwise 2. Scales 3. Fate of the carbon 4. The “unknowns”

  12. Cycles – nutrient and otherwise The level of any nutrient depends partly on the flux between pools Water movement -depends on the type of reef Level of recycling Barrier reef

  13. Cycles – nutrient and otherwise The level of any nutrient depends partly on the flux between pools Water movement -depends on the type of reef Level of recycling Barrier reef Fringing reef

  14. Cycles – nutrient and otherwise The level of any nutrient depends partly on the flux between pools Water movement -depends on the type of reef Level of recycling Barrier reef Fringing reef Atoll

  15. Cycles – nutrient and otherwise Barrier reef Fringing reef Atoll Degree of system closure + (factors increasing) Water residence time, Nutrient recycling, Internal fluxes, Infilling - (factors decreasing) Exports, External connectedness, Boundary fluxes, N limitation

  16. Scales • nutrient level • inputs from ocean • -species composition • -heterotroph/autotroph • composition

  17. Scales • nutrient level • inputs from ocean • -species composition • -heterotroph/autotroph • composition

  18. Fate of the carbon Secondary consumers Detritivores Detritus Primary consumers Primary producers CaCO3

  19. The Unknowns

  20. The Unknowns Detritus Dissolved organics Microbial community

  21. The Unknowns Water (& nutrient flux) within a reef

  22. The Unknowns Water (& nutrient flux) within a reef ?

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