Conference paper

Appeared in: Proceedings of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium

Editor list: Yellowlees, D; Hughes, TP

Publication year: 2012

eISBN: 978-0-9808572-5-2

URL: http://www.icrs2012.com/proceedings/manuscripts/ICRS2012_6C_1.pdf

Conference: 12th International Coral Reef Symposium

Abstract: 

Abiotic factors such as light intensity and water temperature influence coral reef productivity. In Tayrona National Natural Park (Colombian Caribbean), these factors are subject to high temporal variability due to seasonal coastal upwelling events. This offers the opportunity to assess these effects on the key coral reef ecosystem service productivity under in situ conditions in space and time. After identifying the dominant functional groups of primary producers (scleractinian corals,macroalgae, algal turfs, microphytobenthos, and crustose coralline algae) at upwelling-exposed and -sheltered sites of Gayraca Bay, we performed incubation experiments to quantify oxygen fluxes induced by the different groups. The experiments were conducted before and at the end of the upwelling event in 2011. The study revealed scleractinian corals to be the most efficient gross primary producers prior to the upwelling, and scleractinian corals and macroalgae at the end of the upwelling event. Overall benthic carbon fixation and respiration values at both sites were higher at the end of the upwelling due to significantly increased gross carbon fixation by corals, macroalgae, and algal turfs as well as elevated respiration by corals and macroalgae. These findings suggest a stimulation of reef primary production caused by seasonal upwelling events and a high temporal plasticity of productivity in the investigated coral communities.

Harvard Citation style: Eidens, C., Bayraktarov, E., Pizarro, V., Wilke, T. and Wild, C. (2012) Seasonal upwelling stimulates primary production of Colombian Caribbean coral reefs, in Yellowlees, D. and Hughes, T. (eds.) Proceedings of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium. Townsville, Queensland: James Cook University. http://www.icrs2012.com/proceedings/manuscripts/ICRS2012_6C_1.pdf

APA Citation style: Eidens, C., Bayraktarov, E., Pizarro, V., Wilke, T., & Wild, C. (2012). Seasonal upwelling stimulates primary production of Colombian Caribbean coral reefs. In Yellowlees, D., & Hughes, T. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium. James Cook University. http://www.icrs2012.com/proceedings/manuscripts/ICRS2012_6C_1.pdf