Nutrient manipulation methods for coral reef studies: A critical review and experimental field data

The effects of nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment on algal community development: Artificial mini-reefs on the Belize Barrier Reef sedimentary lagoon

“…Offshore Secchi disc depths in excess of 40 m are not unusual, indicating Jerlov Type I oceanic waters. Most importantly, nutrient levels above the tipping-point concentrations noted (Bell, 1992;Bell et al, 2007) to potentially enable macroalgal overgrowth (i.e., >0.1 mM SRP and >1.0 mM DIN) have seldom been recorded (Lapointe et al, , 1993Littler et al, 2006aLittler et al, , 2006b) from the barrier coral reefs of this system. However, a previous study at Glover's Reef (offshore of the Belize Barrier Reef) reported anomalously high background SRP concentrations of 0.35-0.77 mM (McClanahan et al, 2002) for lagoon patch-reef habitats.…”

“…1) -not far ($230 m west) from upstream oligotrophic coral-reef sites that were studied earlier (Lewis, 1986;Littler et al, 2006aLittler et al, , 2006bLittler and Littler, 2007). Proximity to shelter has long been recognized (Randall, 1965;Ogden et al, 1973) as an important Fig.…”

“…Watercolumn dissolved nutrients in combination with ample current flow are generally sufficient to allow substantial productivity of epilithic, epiphytic and other non-rhizomatous algal species within these habitats. However, the extreme nutrient constraints typically observed in the healthy coral-reef ecosystems upstream (Littler et al, 2006a(Littler et al, , 2006b are not as common in sedimentary lagoonal habitats, which are characterized by greatly elevated pore-water nutrient availability. For example, organic detritus rarely develops to high levels on coral-dominated reefs because of intense herbivory and export; whereas, sedimentary back-reef environments contain decomposing organic materials within extensive sediment layers that substantially elevate pore-water nutrient concentrations.…”

Herbivory, Nutrients, Stochastic Events, and Relative Dominances of Benthic Indicator Groups on Coral Reefs: A Review and Recommendations

“…In the study of Lewis (1986) on the same reef fl at studied by Littler et al (2006aLittler et al ( , 2006b, increases in a dominant vegetative algal turf form (Vaughaniella stage) with its upright fertile Padina blades, not blooms of mixed macroalgae, followed short-term (11 week) reductions of herbivorous fi sh grazing under conditions of low nutrient levels. Lewis' (1986) shows statistically signifi cant, but relatively small, increases (26%) in the above Vaughaniella-turf stage and its reproductive Padina blades; however, in contrast to several literature citations, no signifi cant increases occurred in any of the abundant upright macroalgal dominants such as Turbinaria turbinata and Halimeda spp.…”

Unsustainable Land Use, Sediment-Laden Runoff, and Chronic Raw Sewage Offset the Benefits of Coral Reef Ecosystems in a No-Take Marine Protected Area

“…Cyanobacteria can thrive in degraded coral reefs exposed to groundwater seepage (Littler, Littler, Brooks & Lapointe, 2006), under high nutrient conditions in coastal waters (Kuffner & Paul, 2001;Paul, Thacker, Banks & Golubic, 2005), and in diseased coral colonies (Frí as-López, Zerkle, Bonheyo & Fouke, 2002;Klaus, Janse & Fouke, 2011). Cyanobacteria overgrowth can also inhibit coral recruitment (Kuffner & Paul, 2004;Kuffner, Walters, Becerro, Paul et al, 2006), and promote macroalgal dominance by interfering with grazing (Fong, Smith & Wartian, 2006).…”