Skip to main content
Log in

Observations on organic aggregates in the vicinity of coral reefs

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The abundance of organic aggregates is reported for a variety of coral-reef sites and surrounding waters. There is no net increase of aggregates forming from dissolved organic matter and streaming off the reefs into the lagoons, though the organic components and the aeration of this water might be conducive to aggregate formation. Also, although the waters flowing from the surrounding oceans across the reefs and into the lagoons contribute organic components, the concentration of organic aggregates in the latter habitats is not in excess of quantities in surrounding oceanic waters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Barber, R. T.: Interaction of bubbles and bacteria in the formation of organic aggregates in sea water. Nature, Lond. 211, 257–258 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Baylor, E. R. and W. H. Sutcliffe, Jr.: Dissolved organic matter in sea-water as a source of particulate food. Limnol. Oceanogr. 8, 369–381 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, M. S. and H. M. Kelley: Primary productivity of an Hawaiian coral reef. A critique of flow respirometry in turbulent waters. Ecology 43, 473–480 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannes, R. E.: Ecology of organic aggregates in the vicinity of a coral reef. Limnol. Oceanogr. 12, 189–195 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanwisher, J. W. and S. A. Wainwright: Oxygen balance in some reef corals. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 133, 378–390 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohn, A. J. and P. Helfrich: Primary organic productivity of an Hawaiian coral reef. Limnol. Oceanogr. 2, 241–251 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  • Margalef, R.: Hidrografía y fitoplancton de un área marina de la costa meridional de Puérto Rico. Investigación pesq. 18, 33–96 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, N.: Detritus over the reef and its potential contribution to adjacent waters of Eniwetok Atoll. Ecology 3, 343–344 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Milliman, J. D.: Carbonate sedimentation on Hogsty Reef. J. sedim. Petrol. 37, 658–676 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Odum, H. T. and E. P. Odum: Trophic structure and productivity of a windward coral reef community on Eniwetok Atoll. Ecol. Monogr. 25, 291–320 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley, G. A.: Organic aggregates in sea water. Limnol. Oceanogr. 8, 372–381 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon, R. W., T. P. T. Evelyn and T. R. Parsons: On the occurrence and formation of small particles in sea water. Limnol. Oceanogr. 3, 367–375 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieburth, J. McN.: Organic aggregation in sea water by alkaline precipitation of inorganic nuclei during the formation of ammonia by bacteria. J. gen. Microbiol. 41, XX (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Suess, E. and K. E. Chave: Organic reactions effecting calcium carbonate equilibrium in the ocean. Abstract, 30th Ann. Meeting Amer. Soc. Limnol. and Oceanogr. (1967).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by G. L. Voss, Miami

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Marshall, N. Observations on organic aggregates in the vicinity of coral reefs. Marine Biol. 2, 50–53 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00351638

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00351638

Keywords

Navigation