Nutrient manipulation methods for coral reef studies: A critical review and experimental field data

Member of
HBOI Faculty Contributions
Contributors
Littler, Mark M.
Littler, Diane S.
Brooks, Barrett L.
Lapointe, Brian E.
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Date Issued
2006
Note

The results reported in this paper demonstrate suboptimal experimental designs in some of the previously published manipulative methods and provide insights for the improvement of in-situ nutrient studies on coral reefs. Overgrown 0.5-liter porous clay-pot diffusers (“mini-reefs”—following a decade of recruitment, colonization and competition) were utilized to evaluate protocols for studies of controlled nutrient enrichment on coral reefs. A commonly used fertilizer, Tree Food Stakes resulted in detrimental 11-fold and 20-fold decreases of fleshy algae and calcareous coralline algae, respectively, relative to the Control treatments; while blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria) became significantly (6 times) more abundant.

Language
English
Type
Text
Genre
article
Extent
13 p.
Subject (Topical)
Corals
Coral reefs and islands
Algae
Cyanobacteria
Eutrophication
Identifier
2875927
Additional Information
The results reported in this paper demonstrate suboptimal experimental designs in some of the previously published manipulative methods and provide insights for the improvement of in-situ nutrient studies on coral reefs. Overgrown 0.5-liter porous clay-pot diffusers (“mini-reefs”—following a decade of recruitment, colonization and competition) were utilized to evaluate protocols for studies of controlled nutrient enrichment on coral reefs. A commonly used fertilizer, Tree Food Stakes resulted in detrimental 11-fold and 20-fold decreases of fleshy algae and calcareous coralline algae, respectively, relative to the Control treatments; while blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria) became significantly (6 times) more abundant.
This is the author’s version of a work accepted for publication by Elsevier. Changes resulting from the publishing process, including peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting and other quality control mechanisms, may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. The definitive version has been published at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jembe and may be cited as: Littler, M.M., D.S. Littler, B.L. Brooks and B.E. Lapointe (2006) Nutrient manipulation methods for coral reef studies: a critical review and experimental field data. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 336:242-253 doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2006.05.014
Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution #1636.
Date Backup
2006
Date Text
2006
DOI
10.1016/j.jembe.2006.05.014
Date Issued (EDTF)
2006
Extension


FAU
FAU
admin_unit="FAU01", ingest_id="ing8527", creator="creator:FAUDIG", creation_date="2011-01-27 10:55:18", modified_by="super:FAUDIG", modification_date="2014-02-10 13:51:27"

IID
FADT2875927
Issuance
single unit
Person Preferred Name

Littler, Mark M.

creator

Physical Description

pdf
13 p.
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/2875927
Title Plain
Nutrient manipulation methods for coral reef studies: A critical review and experimental field data
URL
http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/2875927
Origin Information

Elsevier B.V.
2006
single unit
Title
Nutrient manipulation methods for coral reef studies: A critical review and experimental field data
Other Title Info

Nutrient manipulation methods for coral reef studies: A critical review and experimental field data