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Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

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Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 538:35-52 (2015)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11385

copied

Community metabolism in shallow coral reef and seagrass ecosystems, lower Florida Keys

ABSTRACT: Diurnal variation of net community production (NEP) and net community calcification (NEC) were measured in coral reef and seagrass biomes during October 2012 in the lower Florida Keys using a mesocosm enclosure and the oxygen gradient flux technique. Seagrass and coral reef sites showed diurnal variations of NEP and NEC, with positive values at near-seafloor light levels >100–300 µEinstein m-2 s-1. During daylight hours, we detected an average NEP of 12.3 and 8.6 mmol O2 m-2 h-1 at the seagrass and coral reef site, respectively. At night, NEP at the seagrass site was relatively constant, while on the coral reef, net respiration was highest immediately after dusk and decreased during the rest of the night. At the seagrass site, NEC values ranged from 0.20 g CaCO3 m-2 h-1 during daylight to -0.15 g CaCO3 m-2 h-1 at night, and from 0.17 to -0.10 g CaCO3 m-2 h-1 at the coral reef site. There were no significant differences in pH and aragonite saturation states (Ωar) between the seagrass and coral reef sites. Decrease in light levels during thunderstorms significantly decreased NEP, transforming the system from net autotrophic to net heterotrophic.

KEYWORDS

Coral reef Seagrass Production Calcification Florida Keys

D. Turk (Corresponding Author)

  • Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
  • LDEO, Columbia University, New York, NY 10964, USA
daniela.turk@dal.ca

K. K. Yates (Co-author)

  • U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA

M. Vega-Rodriguez (Co-author)

  • College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA

G. Toro-Farmer (Co-author)

  • College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA

C. L’Esperance (Co-author)

  • Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada

N. Melo (Co-author)

  • Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
  • NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami 33149, USA

D. Ramsewak (Co-author)

  • Marine Sciences, The University of Trinidad and Tobago, TT, Trinidad and Tobago

M. Dowd (Co-author)

  • Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada

S. Cerdeira Estrada (Co-author)

  • National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), Mexico City, 14010, Mexico

F. E. Müller-Karger (Co-author)

  • College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA

S. R. Herwitz (Co-author)

  • UAV Collaborative, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA

W. R. McGillis (Co-author)

  • LDEO, Columbia University, New York, NY 10964, USA

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