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Measuring coral reef community metabolism using new benthic chamber technology

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Abstract

Accurate measurement of coral reef community metabolism is a necessity for process monitoring and in situ experimentation on coral reef health. Traditional methodologies used for these measurements are effective but limited by location and scale constraints. We present field trial results for a new benthic chamber system called the Submersible Habitat for Analyzing Reef Quality (SHARQ). This large, portable incubation system enables in situ measurement and experimentation on community-scale metabolism. Rates of photosynthesis, respiration, and calcification were measured using the SHARQ for a variety of coral reef substrate types on the reef flat of South Molokai, Hawaii, and in Biscayne National Park, Florida. Values for daily gross production, 24-h respiration, and net calcification ranged from 0.26 to 6.45 g O2 m−2 day−1, 1.96 to 8.10 g O2 m−2 24 h−1, and 0.02 to 2.0 g CaCO3 m−2 day−1, respectively, for all substrate types. Field trials indicate that the SHARQ incubation chamber is an effective tool for in situ isolation of a water mass over a variety of benthic substrate types for process monitoring, experimentation, and other applications.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the US Geological Survey, Geological Discipline, Coastal and Marine Geology Program. We gratefully acknowledge Richard Curry, Research Coordinator of Biscayne National Park, for field and logistical support. We extend sincere gratitude to Captain Barry Denton and First Mate Randy Miglowski, the crew of the support vessel Winning Ticket, for assistance with Biscayne field expeditions. We thank Jerry Johnson, Smiley Kahue, Lyndon DelaCruz, and Roland Moran for technical and logistical assistance during Molokai field expeditions.

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  1. US Geological Survey, 600 Fourth Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA

    K. K. Yates & R. B. Halley

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  1. K. K. Yates
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  2. R. B. Halley
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Correspondence to K. K. Yates.

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Yates, K.K., Halley, R.B. Measuring coral reef community metabolism using new benthic chamber technology. Coral Reefs 22, 247–255 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-003-0314-5

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