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Particulate nutrient fluxes over a fringing coral reef: Source‐sink dynamics inferred from carbon to nitrogen ratios and stable isotopes
Author(s) -
Wyatt Alex S. J.,
Lowe Ryan J.,
Humphries Stuart,
Waite Anya M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.2013.58.1.0409
Subject(s) - reef , coral reef , oceanography , fringing reef , stable isotope ratio , coral , nutrient , environmental science , isotopes of nitrogen , nitrogen , particulates , environmental chemistry , ecology , geology , biology , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
We examined spatial and temporal variations in particulate organic matter (POM) dynamics over a fringing coral reef (Ningaloo Reef) in Western Australia during the austral autumn and spring. Total POM concentrations generally did not differ between seasons or reef zones, but the composition of POM, in terms of carbon isotope ratios ( δ 13 C‐POM), carbon to nitrogen ratios (C : N), and fatty acids, changed consistently in water flowing across the reef. Both δ 13 C‐POM and C : N increased from the fore reef to the reef flat and lagoon, −23.0‰ to −20.1‰ and 7.31 to 8.34, respectively. Average rates of net POM uptake by the reef community were highest over the reef crest (4 to 30 mmol N m −2 d −1 and 6 to 130 mmol C m −2 d −1 ), with a Bayesian isotope model confirming independent measurements of high uptake rates of allochthonous POM (oceanic phyto‐ and zooplankton). In contrast, over the reef flat, net release of POM was observed (−4 to −5 mmol N m −2 d −1 and −50 mmol C m −2 d −1 ), with gross release rates (estimated as −6 to −8 mmol N m −2 d −1 and −30 to −90 mmol C m −2 d −1 ) indicating that the release of autochthonous POM may be of similar magnitude to allochthonous uptake. Examining POM dynamics in terms of gross fluxes reinforces the dependence of coral reef systems on oceanographic processes for allochthonous POM supply, as well as highlighting the potential for autochthonous POM production to supply nutrients to benthic and pelagic communities downstream.