[Coral-List] Coral heterotrophy vs autotrophy

Sean Porter caranx at polka.co.za
Thu Jul 26 00:05:29 EDT 2012


> Dear Kaylee,
>
> You have chosen a very ambitious project for MSc level, but one which is
> very exciting! I would certainly not use the skeleton for the analysis of
> delta Carbon as you will only be measuring inorganic dissolved forms of
> carbon from calcium carbonate absorbed via the water. You need to focus on
> the tissue, but this is complicated by the fact that the tissue contains
> zooxanthellae & host tissue.
>
> Both carbon & nitrogen isotopes are likely to be important. In theory you
> can compare changes over seasons. However, it is not a good idea if you do
> not know what the tissue equilibrium rates are. I know for local east
> coast mussels (Perna perna) it is more than a year, so its difficult to
> pick up seasonal changes.
>
> You could look at variation in delta N and C via a depth and or turbidity
> gradient, within a particular species. But you are going to have to figure
> out what you plan on doing about the zooxanthellae.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Sean
>
> Dr Sean Porter| senior consultant & marine ecologist
>
> Anchor Environmental Consultants
> 8 Steenberg House
> Silverwood Close
> Tokai
> 7945
> Cape Town
> South Africa
> www.anchorenvironmental.co.za
>
> Tel: +27 21 701 3420
> Fax: +27 21 701 5280
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kaylee Smit" <kayles.smit at gmail.com>
> To: <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 11:57 AM
> Subject: [Coral-List] Coral heterotrophy vs autotrophy
>
>
>> Hi coral-listers,
>>
>> I am doing my masters research on intertidal coral physiology. I am
>> wanting
>> to determine whether there are shifts in autotrophy and heterotrophy in
>> corals. Without doing a feeding experiment, in what way can I use
> isotope
>> analysis to quantify changes in heterotrophy and autotrophy in the
> field,
>> without setting up an experiment. Would I use skeletal or tissue
> analysis?
>> And would it be possible to compare changes over seasons?
>>
>> If anyone can point me in the right direction, or if you have some
> useful
>> literature for me, it will be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Regards
>> Kaylee
>>
>> MSc student,
>> University of KwaZulu-Natal
>> Durban
>> South Africa
>> _______________________________________________
>> Coral-List mailing list
>> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list 



More information about the Coral-List mailing list