Internal Hydrology and Geochemistry of Coral Reefs and Atoll Islands: Key to Diagenetic Variations

Effect of reef framework and bottom sediment on nutrient enrichment in a coral reef of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea

“…Similar findings were reported by Ferrer & Szmant (1988) and Tribble et al (1988), who measured increased nutrient concentrations in the cavities of the reef of Belize Barrier Reef and Kaneohe Bay respectively, and a net flux of nutrients from the reef framework to the surrounding water. These findings indicate that the reef framework is an important site for organic matter mineralization in the reef (Andrews & Müller 1983, Szmant-Froelich 1983, Sansone 1985, Buddemeier & Oberdorfer 1986, Tribble et al 1986, 1988 and suggest that the framework may act as a temporal nutrient source in the reef environment.…”

Introduction

“…In addition, there is a slight, but nevertheless significant, difference in the mean sea level between the platform and adjacent waters. This difference has been proposed to be responsible for the pumping of seawater through supratidal sediments (Carballo et al, 1987) and reefs (Buddemeier and Oberdorfer, 1986). Whittaker and Smart (1990) suggested that this mechanism might be responsible for subsurface movement of fluids from the GBB under Andros Island.…”

Distributions of pigments in reef sediments, contribution of phytoplankton to organic matter budget in coral reef

“…Rates are calculated from concentration differences between March and November divided by periods. sand [39,40], which enhance advective transport through these sediments. In high permeable sand, advective exchange may be dominant which increase the flow of water with particulate matter into the sediments [5].…”