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An introduction to the biogeochemical cycling of calcium and substitutive strontium in living coral reef mesocosms
Author(s) -
Lang Gerald T.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
zoo biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1098-2361
pISSN - 0733-3188
DOI - 10.1002/zoo.1430120505
Subject(s) - mesocosm , aragonite , seawater , biogeochemical cycle , coral reef , reef , environmental chemistry , coral , oceanography , strontium , biology , calcite , ecology , chemistry , ecosystem , geology , organic chemistry , paleontology
Abstract The coral reef mesocosms designed by the Smithsonian Institution's Dr. Walter Adey, his Marine System Laboratory personnel, and staff members of the Pittsburgh Aqua‐Zoo simulate most of the physical, chemical, and biological parameters found in natural Caribbean coral reefs. After developing the mesocosm in Pittsburgh, an evaluation and comparison between natural reef seawater sources and closed mesocosm seawater conditions indicated that an additional parameter should be investigated. It was hypothesized that, given time, the aragonite‐ and calcite (CaCO 3 crystal forms)‐producing organisms in the closed mesocosms could deplete the seawater of available Ca 2+ and substitutive Sr 2+ . Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was utilized to determine concentrations in the seawater over time. Results showed a substantial reduction in dissolved Ca and Sr in the mesocosm after approximately two years. Dissolved aragonitic Halimeda algae parts were put into the system for replacive purposes. In terms of the biogeochemical cycling of Ca 2+ and Sr 2+ , the coral reef mesocosm organisms behaved similarly to natural reefs, which have a constant supply of dissolved Ca 2+ and Sr 2+ . Further research utilizing radiolabeled sources of Ca 2+ , Sr 2+ , and Mg 2+ , in conjunction with in vivo scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and growth increment studies, are recommended for determining the exact biogeochemical pathways for these elements in coral reefs, and to quantify growth parameters. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.