Contents
Introduction .......................................... .
1
Reef Lime Constructions ...........................
4
1.1 Geological History, Features of Geomorphology ......
4
1.2 Biological Factors of Formation and Erosion .........
17
1.3 Bottom Sediments ................................
28
2
Reef Environments ................................
34
2.1 Hydrodynamics and Thermohaline Features
of Reef Waters ...................................
34
2.2 Nutrients ........................................
45
2.2.1 Ambient Concentration in Waters ...................
46
2.2.2 Mechanisms of External Input of Nutrients ..........
48
2.2.3 Nitrogen Fixation .................................
54
2.2.4 Dynamics of Nutrients ............................
55
2.2.5 Conclusion .......................................
63
2.3 Organic Matter in Reef Waters ......................
65
3
3.1
3.1.1
3.1.2
3.1.3
Plankton in Coral-Reef Waters ..................... .
Bacterioplankton ................................. .
Biomass and Production .......................... .
Bacteria as Food for Coral Reef Animals ........... .
Luminescent Bacteria ............................. .
73
73
73
83
89
3.2 Phytoplankton... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .
90
3.2.1 Taxonomy........................................
90
3.2.2 Biomass, Production, Chlorophyll ...................
96
3.3 Zooplankton ..................................... 104
3.3.1 Mesozooplankton ................................. 106
3.3.2 Microzooplankton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
3.3.3 Conclusion ....................................... 125