Sediment impacts on growth rates of Acropora and Porites corals from fringing reefs of Sulawesi, Indonesia

Small changes in environmental parameters (e.g. a two degree change in temperature) can cause significant (up to 50%) changes in growth rates (Meesters et al. 1998; Kaandorp 1999; Crabbe and Smith 2002, 2003; Macdonald and Perry 2003; Jimenez and Cortes 2003; Lirman et al. 2003). Often, environmental parameters influencing growth can be multifactorial, so that high energy and high sedimentation together can reduce growth (Cruz-Pinon et al. 2003), while changes in temperature, salinity, and sedimentation can influence not only growth but also diversity and abundance of corals (Lirman et al. 2003). Using digital videophotography and computer image analysis, as well as physical measurements, we have surveyed the reefs near the island of Hoga, where a Marine Research Station run by Operation Wallacea is situated. Our studies were to test the hypothesis that sedimentation and insolation on Porites lutea and Acropora valeniennesi corals from fringing reefs of Sulawesi in Indonesia influenced coral growth. Radial and linear growth rates were measured.

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