Authors: K K Yates R B Halley
Publish Date: 2003/07/26
Volume: 22, Issue: 3, Pages: 247-255
Abstract
Accurate measurement of coral reef community metabolism is a necessity for process monitoring and in situ experimentation on coral reef health Traditional methodologies used for these measurements are effective but limited by location and scale constraints We present field trial results for a new benthic chamber system called the Submersible Habitat for Analyzing Reef Quality SHARQ This large portable incubation system enables in situ measurement and experimentation on communityscale metabolism Rates of photosynthesis respiration and calcification were measured using the SHARQ for a variety of coral reef substrate types on the reef flat of South Molokai Hawaii and in Biscayne National Park Florida Values for daily gross production 24h respiration and net calcification ranged from 026 to 645 g O2 m−2 day−1 196 to 810 g O2 m−2 24 h−1 and 002 to 20 g CaCO3 m−2 day−1 respectively for all substrate types Field trials indicate that the SHARQ incubation chamber is an effective tool for in situ isolation of a water mass over a variety of benthic substrate types for process monitoring experimentation and other applicationsThis research was funded by the US Geological Survey Geological Discipline Coastal and Marine Geology Program We gratefully acknowledge Richard Curry Research Coordinator of Biscayne National Park for field and logistical support We extend sincere gratitude to Captain Barry Denton and First Mate Randy Miglowski the crew of the support vessel Winning Ticket for assistance with Biscayne field expeditions We thank Jerry Johnson Smiley Kahue Lyndon DelaCruz and Roland Moran for technical and logistical assistance during Molokai field expeditions
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