Gj. Telesnicki et Wm. Goldberg, EFFECTS OF TURBIDITY ON THE PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION OF 2 SOUTHFLORIDA REEF CORAL SPECIES, Bulletin of marine science, 57(2), 1995, pp. 527-539
The photosynthetic and respiratory responses of two scleractinian cora
l species from Florida, Dichocoenia stokesii and Meandrina meandrites
were examined in vitro under conditions of elevated turbidity for up t
o 3 weeks. Turbidity ranges of 7-9, 14-16 and 28-30 NTU were rested an
d compared to controls at 0-2 NTU. The highest range corresponds with
the maximum allowed during construction in Florida coastal waters. No
differences were found between control and the 7-9 NTU groups. However
, both species exhibited significant changes in P:R ratio after 2-3 da
ys in both the 14-16 and the 28-30 NTU ranges compared to controls. Mu
cus production was clearly evident in the higher turbidity ranges. Exp
osure to 28-30 NTU depressed the P:R ratio to below 1.0, a level that
was maintained for the 21-day duration of the experiments. Light was n
ever less than the saturation value of either species, and no change i
n light quality was observed as a function of turbidity. Since no sign
ificant differences were observed in gross photosynthetic oxygen produ
ction among any of the treatment or control groups, the turbidity-rela
ted change observed in the P:R ratio appears due to increased respirat
ion, rather than decreased photosynthesis. These results suggest that
adherence to turbidity-related water quality standards as presently de
fined in Florida, may result in short term stress and long term declin
e in at lease some coral species.