Seasonal fluctuations in zooxanthellae densities in corals in the Mombasa Marine Park, 1998-2006.
This paper examines whether zooxanthellae population densities in corals in the Mombasa Marine Park undergo seasonal fluctuations. Eleven species or genera were sampled periodically between 1998 and 2006: Acropora spp, Echinopora gemmacea, Favia spp, Galaxea fascicularis, Hydnophora microconos, Montipora aequituberculata, Pavona decussate, Pocillopora damicornis, Pocillopora eydouxi, Porites cylindrica and Porites lutea. Coral fragments were collected from 5 replicate colonies of each of the 10 species during the northeast and south-east monsoon seasons from 2004 to the present and zooxanthellae densities were measured. The study did not find regular seasonal fluctuations in zooxanthellae densities for all species. Species with faster growth rates displayed higher densities during the north-east monsoon while those with slower growth rates displayed higher densities during the south-east monsoon. The lack of regularity in fluctuations could be due to Mombasa's low latitude and therefore less pronounced temperature fluctuations. It is possible that the zooxanthellae density of corals closer to the equator are not influenced by the lower seasonal variability of environmental factors.
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Report Section biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
African Studies Centre
2009
|
| Subjects: | Coral reefs, Environmental factors, Growth rate, Marine parks, Population density, Seasonal variations, Temperature effects, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/8313 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|