Historic Records of Phosphorus Levels in the Reef-building Coral Montastrea annularis from Tobago, West Indies

摘要

Enhanced phosphorus concentrations in coral reef systems can be detrimental (Kinsey and Davies, 1979; Walker and Ormond, 1982; Fishelson, 1973). The deposition of aragonite (CaCO_3) in coral skeleton material from the surrounding waters has led to the suggestion that coral skeletons may be used to determine the chemistry of the waters in which they grow (Broeecker, 1963; Veeh and Turkeian, 1968; St John, 1974; Flor and Moore, 1977). A detailed review of corals, as environmental indicators was published by Highsmith (1979). The presence of alternating bands of different density, as indicators of annual growth within the coral skeleton, provides a means of assessing historical trends (Knutson et al., 1972; Barnes, 1973; Macintyre and Smith, 1974; Dodge et al., 1974; Dodge and Thompson, 1974; Barnes and Lough, 1989). Seasonal patterns are revealed when the coral is slabbed and X-radiographed (Dodge and Vaisnys, 1980; Barnes and Lough, 1989; Barnes et al., 1989).