Factors influencing the small-scale spatial patterns of motile invertebrates on the surface of Monastrea annularis /
Small, motile invertebrates associated with coral reefs are
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1994.
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| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=741965811&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | Small, motile invertebrates associated with coral reefs are an important component of the reef community. Previous studies of these organisms have largely neglected any questions involving those organisms epizoic on living coral surfaces. methodological limitations have probably been one of the reasons for this neglect. In this research, I developed and tested a method to study spatial patterns in small epizoites on relatively simple surfaces. I used this sampler to study epizoite spatial patterns on areas of Montastrea amularis colonies in various physical regimes. I did preliminary samples to estimate the variability that might be associated with subsequent tests. In the water column, as in terrestrial systems, light is a major physical influence on the spatial patterns of organisms. Epizoite spatial patterns were studied in relation to coral surface light regimes. Two common epizoic species, the siphonostomatoid copepod Asteropontius proximus and a halacarid mite with parasitic mouthparts, were distributed significantly toward the sun in the morning and evening. A variety of small harpacticoid species also showed this pattern, but no species occurred consistently enough for statistical analyses. In all the phototactic species, mid- day abundances on top of the corals were too low to confirm that organisms were tracking the sun across the coral surfaces-Dye streamlines were used to determine high- and low-flow surfaces on the sides of M. amularis colonies. I sampled epizoites in these high and low-flow zones on coral heads along a forereef transect. Both absolute abundances and relative abundances between types of organisms differed significantly between the high and low-flow surfaces of the corals. Copepod abundances were very low on high-flow days, but I detected a fairly strong trend of increasing abundances with depth. This study demonstrates that informative studies of epizoic organisms can be done on coral reefs if measures are taken to minimize experimental error. Overall, the results appear to fit a model of a community structured by a combination of behavioral interactions and physical extremes. Greater knowledge concerning these organisms may lead to a better understanding of factors influencing the health of reef corals. The ability to quantify and model the abundances of organisms on consistent substrates like some corals may eventually be applied to monitoring the health of coral reef systems. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Oceanography". |
| Physical Description: | xiii, 138 leaves : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |