marke
Active Member
A recent article published by 2 major US Universities (I think I attached it right) shows fish in eddies ( nutrient rich water) grow faster. I was wondering if this might be the same for corals?
They say in the summer when waters warm there is less available food (Nutrients as DOM) in the normal water column until eddies bring in nutrients to certain areas that cause fish to grow faster. In the winter it seems the eddies are less important, or there is available food.
ME take on what this might mean for corals in florida in the summer. Last few summers we have seen excessive coral bleaching and possible demise of some of our reefs. The consensus thinking is its the increasing water temperature that is bleaching the corals, along with man made pollution and run off.
This article makes Me wonder if the corals in these eddies are surviving better than those not in these nutrient rich water, like the fish story. Remember juvenile fish have similar diets to corals, at least as to particle size. Maybe along with the temp and pollution---- its actually a lack of food that is causing or adding to the coral mortality. There is research out there that shows if corals are nitrate or amino deprived there growth and health suffers.
My question or lack of understanding (Help Randy) is:
If corals need food during these summer months with high temps and lower food availability, why is the nutrients in the run off not feeding the corals properly? Is the run off not Nitrate and PO4? Do corals discriminate or accept food based on the quality of that food? Ie prefer DOM or zooplankton over plain old nitrates?
Thanks in advance for your comments!
They say in the summer when waters warm there is less available food (Nutrients as DOM) in the normal water column until eddies bring in nutrients to certain areas that cause fish to grow faster. In the winter it seems the eddies are less important, or there is available food.
ME take on what this might mean for corals in florida in the summer. Last few summers we have seen excessive coral bleaching and possible demise of some of our reefs. The consensus thinking is its the increasing water temperature that is bleaching the corals, along with man made pollution and run off.
This article makes Me wonder if the corals in these eddies are surviving better than those not in these nutrient rich water, like the fish story. Remember juvenile fish have similar diets to corals, at least as to particle size. Maybe along with the temp and pollution---- its actually a lack of food that is causing or adding to the coral mortality. There is research out there that shows if corals are nitrate or amino deprived there growth and health suffers.
My question or lack of understanding (Help Randy) is:
If corals need food during these summer months with high temps and lower food availability, why is the nutrients in the run off not feeding the corals properly? Is the run off not Nitrate and PO4? Do corals discriminate or accept food based on the quality of that food? Ie prefer DOM or zooplankton over plain old nitrates?
Thanks in advance for your comments!
