24
Reef Lime Constructions
Table 1.5. Rates of lime biodeposition (Rc) and annual production (Rt) of carbonate
material in reef bottom biotopes; designations of reef zones: at reef-flat covered by
crustose coralline algae; fl reef-flat covered by living corals; pr patch reefs; [lagoon; m
average value calculated per whole reef. Data by Stoddart (1969), Smith (1973), Smith
and Pes ret (1974), Stearn et at. (1977), Kinsey (1978), Hubbard et at. (1981b), Drew and
Abel (1983), Johannes et at. (1983b), Barnes and Devereux (1984), Hubbard (1985)
Location
Reef zones
Rc, gm- 2 day-l
Rt, kgm- 2
One Tree Island ring reef,
af
11.6
4.0
GBR
fI
13.0
4.5
I
4.3
1.0
pr
1.5
0.3
Lizard Island,
fI
10.4
3.6
GBR
af
11.0
3.8
m
5.8
1.8
Rib reef, GBR
fI
9.4
3.5
I
6.1
2.5
Abrolhos I, Western Australia
fI
13.0-50.0
12.0
Oahu I., Hawaii
m
3.0
1.1
Enivetok atoll
fI
31.0
11.2
af
11.7
4.7
m
10.0
3.6
Rongelap atoll
m
24.0
9.2
Canton atoll
m
1.5
0.5
Barbados
fI
42.0
15.0
Saint Croix, Virgin I.
m
19.0
5.0-7.0
Bahamas
m
22.0
75
Table 1.5). The seasonal changes in temperature and illumination are also
reflected in the seasonal variations of linear growth rates of corals (Shinn
1966; Buddemeyer and Kinzie 1976; Gladfelter et al. 1978; Bablet 1985).
The inhibiting effect of eutrophication on coral growth is connected mainly
with the increasing turbidity which weakens the illumination upon which the
rate of calcification directly depends (Dodge and Vaisnys 1977; Dodge
1981). Another cause could be the inhibition of calcification by a high
content of PO~- in water, which also inhibits calcification (Simkiss 1964).
The growth rate and calcification on reefs increase after storms, when new
populations of young, fast-growing ramose corals recruited from broken
branches start actively to grow (Highsmith et al. 1980).
The data on linear growth rate of corals as well as on the growth of their
mass, when measured at ambient environments, are used as indicators of the
in situ rate of their calcification.
The results of estimations of calcification rates in reef benthic communities
are given in Table 1.5 (see also Tables 10.6, 10.8). They show that it
progresses most actively in the reef-flat zone independently of domination of
corals or of coralline algae in it. It comprises there 1O-20gm- 2 day-l,
which is comparable to the primary production of organic matter or sometimes even exceeds. it. Maximum values were recorded at the reef-flat of the
Reef Lime Constructions
Table 1.5. Rates of lime biodeposition (Rc) and annual production (Rt) of carbonate
material in reef bottom biotopes; designations of reef zones: at reef-flat covered by
crustose coralline algae; fl reef-flat covered by living corals; pr patch reefs; [lagoon; m
average value calculated per whole reef. Data by Stoddart (1969), Smith (1973), Smith
and Pes ret (1974), Stearn et at. (1977), Kinsey (1978), Hubbard et at. (1981b), Drew and
Abel (1983), Johannes et at. (1983b), Barnes and Devereux (1984), Hubbard (1985)
Location
Reef zones
Rc, gm- 2 day-l
Rt, kgm- 2
One Tree Island ring reef,
af
11.6
4.0
GBR
fI
13.0
4.5
I
4.3
1.0
pr
1.5
0.3
Lizard Island,
fI
10.4
3.6
GBR
af
11.0
3.8
m
5.8
1.8
Rib reef, GBR
fI
9.4
3.5
I
6.1
2.5
Abrolhos I, Western Australia
fI
13.0-50.0
12.0
Oahu I., Hawaii
m
3.0
1.1
Enivetok atoll
fI
31.0
11.2
af
11.7
4.7
m
10.0
3.6
Rongelap atoll
m
24.0
9.2
Canton atoll
m
1.5
0.5
Barbados
fI
42.0
15.0
Saint Croix, Virgin I.
m
19.0
5.0-7.0
Bahamas
m
22.0
75
Table 1.5). The seasonal changes in temperature and illumination are also
reflected in the seasonal variations of linear growth rates of corals (Shinn
1966; Buddemeyer and Kinzie 1976; Gladfelter et al. 1978; Bablet 1985).
The inhibiting effect of eutrophication on coral growth is connected mainly
with the increasing turbidity which weakens the illumination upon which the
rate of calcification directly depends (Dodge and Vaisnys 1977; Dodge
1981). Another cause could be the inhibition of calcification by a high
content of PO~- in water, which also inhibits calcification (Simkiss 1964).
The growth rate and calcification on reefs increase after storms, when new
populations of young, fast-growing ramose corals recruited from broken
branches start actively to grow (Highsmith et al. 1980).
The data on linear growth rate of corals as well as on the growth of their
mass, when measured at ambient environments, are used as indicators of the
in situ rate of their calcification.
The results of estimations of calcification rates in reef benthic communities
are given in Table 1.5 (see also Tables 10.6, 10.8). They show that it
progresses most actively in the reef-flat zone independently of domination of
corals or of coralline algae in it. It comprises there 1O-20gm- 2 day-l,
which is comparable to the primary production of organic matter or sometimes even exceeds. it. Maximum values were recorded at the reef-flat of the