Abstract
Exchange of phosphate between components of the reef bottom and the water column were studied on reefs around Heron Island (Great Barrier Reef), both in aquaria and in in situ enclosures, using radioactive phosphorus (32P) as a tracer. Living corals, dead corals, coral rubble overgrown with periphyton, and soft sediments of coral sand were used in experiments. In all of these components of bottom reef biotopes, two opposite flows of inorganic phosphate were recorded and measured, i.e. the rate of PO4-P uptake from water (Ac), and its release (Ae). At ambient PO4-P concentrations in water of 0.1– 0.3 µmoll−1, both flows varied in living corals and coral rubble between 10 and 70 µg P kg−1 h−1, 3–10 mg P m–2 day–1, and in coral sand between 10 and 30 µg P kg−1 h−1, or 2–7 mg P m−2 day−1. Under the latter concentration range (which is typical for coral reef areas), the reciprocal PO4-P flows almost balanced each other, so that net uptake (At) was very low. Often it approached zero or was positive, showing that a net PO4-P release had taken place. The uptake flow (Ac) in living coral was much more dependent on the PO4-P content in overlying water than was the release flow (Ae). The influence of conditions of illumination upon the values of Ac and Ae was comparatively low. The data obtained are used to discuss problems of phosphorus balance and dynamics in coral reef ecosystems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrews, J. C. & H. R. Miller, 1983. Space-time variability of nutrients in a lagoonal patch reef. Limnol. Oceanogr. 28: 215–227.
Atkinson, M. J., 1981. Phosphate flux as a measure of net coral reef productivity. Proceedings of the 4th International Coral Reef Symposium. Manila. 1: 717–718.
Atkinson, M. J., 1981a. Phosphate metabolism of coral reef flats. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Hawaii, Honolulu.
Atkinson, M. J., 1983. Phosphorus in coral reef ecosystems. In: J. Baker (ed.), Proc. Great Barrier Reef Conference. AIMS, Townsville: 271–274.
Burris, R. H., 1983. Uptake and assimilation of 15NH4 + by a variety of corals. Mar. Biol. 75: 151–155.
Crossland, C. J., 1983. Dissolved nutrients in coral reef waters. In O. Barnes (ed.), Perspectives on Coral Reefs. AIMS Townsville: 56–58.
Crossland, C. J. & D. J. Barnes, 1983. Dissolved nutrients and organic particulates in waters flowing over coral reefs at Lizard Island. Australian J. Mar. Freshwat. Res. 34: 835–844.
D'Elia, C. F., 1977. The uptake and release of dissolved phosphorus by reef corals. Limnol. Oceanogr. 22: 301–315.
Entsch, B., K. G. Boto, R. G. Sim & J. T. Wellington, 1983. Phosphorus and nitrogen in coral reef sediments. Limnol. Oceanogr. 28: 465–476.
Hatcher, A. J., 1985. The relationship between coral reef structure and nitrogen dynamics. Proceedings of the 5th International Coral Reef Congress, Tahiti, 3: 407–413.
Henderson, R. S., 1981. In situ and microcosm studies of dietl metabolism of reef flat communities. Proceedings of the 4th International Coral Reef Symposium Manila, 1: 679–686.
Johannes, R. E., 1973. Coral reefs and pollution. In Marine Pollution and Sea Life. Unipub: New York: 364–375.
Johannes, R. E. & 22 coauthors, 1972. The metabolism of some coral reef communities: a team study of nutrient and energy flux at Eniwetok. Bioscience, 22: 541–543.
Johannes, R. E. & K. L. Webb, 1970. Release of dissolved organic compounds by marine invertebrates. In: O. Hood (ed.), Organic Matter in Natural Waters. University of Alaska Press: 257–574.
Kimmerer, W. J. & T. W. Walsh, 1981. Tarawa Atoll lagoon: circulation, nutrient fluxes and the mpact of pollution. Micronesica, 17: 161–179.
Kinsey, D. W., 1977. Seasonality and zonation in coral reef productivity and calcification. Proceedings of the 3rd International Coral Reef Symposium, Miami, 2: 383–388.
Kinsey, D. W., 1983. Standards of perforance in coral reef. In Perspectives on Coral Reef. AIMS, Townsville: 209–218.
Kinsey, D. W. & A. Domm, 1974. Effects of fertilization on a coral reef environment — primary production studies. Proceedings of the 2nd International Coral Reef Symposium, Brisbane, 1: 49–66.
Lee, C. C., E. L. Lee & I. S. Bunt, 1975. Distribution of biomass in a coral reef transect. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Science Bull. 20: 69–75.
Lewis, J. B., 1973. Relevance of symbiosis to taxonomy and ecology. In: V. Heywood (ed.), Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press, New York: 1151–1172.
Lewis, J. B., 1977. Processes of organic production of coral reefs. Biol. Rev., Cambridge Philosoph. Soc. 52: 305–347.
Murphy, J. & J. P. Riley, 1962. Determination of phosphate in natural waters. Analyt. Chim. Acta 27: 31–36.
Muscatine, L., 1980. Uptake, retention and release of dissolved inorganic nutrients by marine alga — invertebrate associations. In: C. Cook (ed.), Cellular Interactions in Symbiosis and Parasitism. Ohio University Press, Columbus: 229–242.
Muscatine, L. & C. F. D'Elia, 1978. The uptake, retention and release of ammonium by reef corals. Limnology and Oceanography 23: 725–734.
Muscatine, L. & J. W. Porter, 1977. Reef corals: mutualistic symbiosis adapted to nutrient-poor environments. Bioscience 27: 454–460.
Pilson, M. E. & S. B. Betzer, 1973. Phosphorus flux across a coral reef. Ecology 54: 581–588.
Pomeroy, L. R., M. E. Pilson & W. E. Wiebe, 1974. Tracer studies of the exchange of phosphorus between reef water and organisms in the windward reef of Eniwetok Atoll. Proceedings of the 2nd International Coral Reef Symposium, Brisbane 1: 87–96.
Propp, M. V., 1981. (in Russian). Excretion and uptake of ammonia, nitrate and phosphate by some reef corals. Biol. Morya (Vladivostok) 3: 55–62.
Propp, M. V., V. G. Tarasov & T. T. Chabargy, 1980. (in Russian). Metabolism of bottom biotopes. In: E. Krasnov (ed.), Biology of Coral Reefs, Studies at the Fantom Bank (Timor Sea). Vladivostok: 75–102.
Sorokin, Yu. I., 1981. Periphytonic and benthic microflora on the reef: biomass and metabolism. Proceedings of the 4th International Coral Reef Symposium, Manila 2: 443–447.
Sorokin, Yu. I., 1985. Phosphorus metabolism in planktonic communities of the eastern tropical Pacific. Mar. Ecol. Progress Ser. 27: 87–97.
Sorokin, Yu. I., 1990. Trophodynamics and energy balance in coral reef ecosystems. In: Z. Dubinski (ed.), Coral Reefs. Elsevier, 440 pp.
Webb, K. L., W. D. Du Paul, W. Wiebe, W. Sottile & R. E. Johannes, 1975. Eniwetok Atoll: aspects of nitrogen cycle on a coral reef. Limnol. Oceanogr. 20: 198–200.
Wiebe, W. J., 1985. Nitrogen dynamics on coral reefs. Proceeding of the 5th International Coral Reef Congress, Tahiti, 3: 401–408.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sorokin, Y.I. Phosphorus metabolism in coral reef communities: exchange between the water column and bottom biotopes. Hydrobiologia 242, 105–114 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00018066
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00018066