The Relationship Between Algal Cover and Coral Recruitment A study of Palmyra Atoll

<a href="https://embed.stanford.edu/iframe/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpurl.stanford.edu%2Fjc152df6888" class="su-underline">Show Content</a>

Abstract/Contents

Abstract: There is increasing awareness that coral reefs exhibit a high degree of spatio-temporal variability in recruitment, yet the processes that create these patterns are poorly known. This study investigates the relationship of algae and the recruitment of coral at Palmyra Atoll by quantifying algal cover and counting number of coral recruits per area studied. Three study sites were chosen for this study; Tiger Shark Point, North Barren Island, and Coral Gardens. Patterns that were observed confirmed the prediction that areas with less algal cover would have a higher number of juvenile corals than areas with more algal cover. Tiger Shark point showed the highest algal cover and the lowest number of juvenile corals. Results from Coral Gardens and North Barren Island show similar numbers of juvenile coral but a 20 percent difference in algal cover with north of barren island having higher coverage. This anomaly could be explained by a small sample size and faulty data. Nutrient levels, flow, and number of herbivorous fish did not show a particular pattern that correlated with the coral recruitment and further studies are encouraged.

Type of resource	text
Date created	June 9, 2003

Author	Vichit-Vadakan, Visra

Subject	Stanford@SEA
Subject	S-187
Subject	Hopkins Marine Station
Subject	Department of Biology
Subject	Department of Earth System Science
Subject	BIOHOPK 182H
Subject	BIOHOPK 323H
Subject	EARTHSYS 323
Subject	ESS 323
Subject	algal cover
Subject	coral recruitment
Subject	Palmyra Atoll
Subject	Tiger Shark Point
Subject	North Barren Island
Subject	Coral Gardens
Genre	Student project report

Location	https://purl.stanford.edu/jc152df6888

Use and reproduction: User agrees that, where applicable, content will not be used to identify or to otherwise infringe the privacy or confidentiality rights of individuals. Content distributed via the Stanford Digital Repository may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor.
License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license (CC BY).

Preferred Citation: Visra Vichit-Vadakan, 2003. The Relationship Between Algal Cover and Coral Recruitment A study of Palmyra Atoll. Unpublished student research paper, S-187, Stanford@SEA, Stanford Digital Repository. https://purl.stanford.edu/jc152df6888.

Stanford@SEA -- Student papers

Loading usage metrics...