Particulate Organic Carbon of Bottom Boundary and Submarine Cavern Waters of Tropical Coral Reefs

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Particulate organic carbon [POC] was measured in water samples from the bottom boundary layer of open reefs, a submarine cavern and intermediate depths over coral reefs in the tropical Pacific (Guam) and Atlantic (Barbados) Oceans. Differences in POC content between these geographically disjunct areas are insignificant and, when compared with previously published values, suggest that POC values of boundary reef waters are highly uniform throughout the tropics at 58-71 .mu.g POC1-1. Vertical profiles of POC at outer deep reef stations are uniform and contrast with a previously published inshore profile. With relation to previous observations the profiles suggest that benthic communities may be important in structuring intermediate levels of the over-reef water column.