9ICRS Plenary Addresses

PLENARY ADDRESSES

1

ROLE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS IN CORAL

REEF PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT.

Alcala, Angel C.* *Silliman University–Angelo King

Center for Research and Environmental Management,

Marine Laboratory, Bantayan, 6200 Dumaguete City,

Philippines. Email: suakcrem@fil.net

Coral reefs are now under severe stress from both natural and

human-induced environmental changes causing considerable

damage. Many of the human activities directly or indirectly

impacting coral reefs are driven by socio-economic factors.

Foremost among these factors is poverty. In developing

countries the need for sources of subsistence living, of

livelihood, and of income through tourism and exploitation of

economically important species is great. As a result, coral reefs

have been mined, blasted, poisoned, overfished or otherwise

subjected to misuse and abuse. There must be a way to utilize

socio-economic values of and benefits from coral reefs as

incentive for their protection and sustainable management. To

do this, successful approaches to conservation such as

establishment of marine protected areas, community-based

coastal resource management and integrated coastal zone

management as well as other useful management tools should

be applied to current efforts at coral reef conservation. Indeed,

experience has shown that such approaches may be our last

option to stop the degradation of coral reefs and coral reef

resources heavily impacted by man.

ECOMORPHOLOGY OF REEF FISHES:

TRANSCENDING BARRIERS IN SPACE AND TIME

Bellwood, David R.*. *Dept Of Marine Biology, James

Cook University, Townsville, Qld. 4811, Australia. Email:

david.bellwood@jcu.edu.au

Coral reefs support a staggering diversity of species and

forms. This grabs our attention but challenges our attempts to

describe the system or the biology of the component species.

We now have a workable taxonomic description for most reef

fishes and corals. Quantitative and experimental studies have

added to this knowledge to provide a picture of the factors

shaping local populations. The challenge now is to look

beyond individual species and reefs to patterns and processes

operating at larger scales. Recent descriptions of congruent

global biogeographic patterns in reef fishes and corals point to

processes that operate beyond species and population levels,

and highlight the need to consider reefs systems in a global

context. Furthermore, observations of the abilities of

individuals emphasises the critical importance of

understanding the function or role of individuals in reef

systems. Ecomorphology provides a basis for evaluating

individual abilities which transcends space and time, a method

based on a description of abilities alone. I will provide

examples from reef fishes which describe how this approach

may help us to understand the significance of abilities in

shaping assemblages and in describing the roles of reef fish

among habitats, between oceans and back through time to the

reef fish assemblages of the Eocene, Jurassic and Triassic. This

approach offers a common language as relevant to marine

parks managers as to palaeontologists where abilities, not

names or numbers, are important.

CORAL REEF CONSERVATION IN PALAU: A

SUCCESS STORY

Idechong, Noah* Palau

No abstract

HOMAGE TO STYLOPHORA PISTILLATA: AN

IMPORTANT CORAL IN CORAL REEF RESEARCH.

Loya Y., Department of Zoology, The George S. Wise

Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv

69978, Israel. Email: yosiloya@post.tau.ac.il

Stylophora pistillata (Esper 1797), one of the most

important hermatypic species on a global scale, has been used

for many years as a key species for coral research in many

fields, including Coral Biology, Ecology, Physiology,

Biochemistry, Geochemistry, Immunology, Evolution,

Paleoecology, Biogeography and others. This paper highlights

some of the major contributions made in coral reef research

using S. pistillata as a model species, from the community

level to the cellular and molecular levels. Studies concerning

regional variations at the population level include population

structure and dynamics, life history strategy, growth and

regulation of populations, regeneration, competitive networks

and reproductive strategy. The accumulated information has

served studies contributing to coral reef conservation and

restoration strategies. Major contributions have been made to

our knowledge of the physiology of corals, especially in

advancing our understanding of the symbiotic relationship

between the coral host and its symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae),

such as environmental effects (biotic and/or abiotic factors) on

photosynthesis, respiration and calcification mechanisms,

energy budgets (autotrophy vs. heterotrophy), carbon

partitioning and utilization, adaptive mechanisms of algal

regulation and causes and effects of coral bleaching. Other

studies concerning symbiotic relationships between the coral

host and animals associated with it (sponges, other cnidarians,

molluscs, crustaceans, worms echinoderms and fish) discuss

obligatory, mutualistic or parasitic relationships affecting the

life history of the coral and its symbiotic organisms. Seminal

studies have been performed on marine pollution effects (crude

oil, sewage and phosphates) at the

CORAL REEFS OF INDONESIA: PAST, PRESENT AND

FUTURE

Nontji, Anugerah., Indonesian Institute of Science,

Jakarta. Email:aanontji@indosat.net.id

The geographic setting of Indonesia, situated in the tropics

between Asia and Australia, and between the Pacific and the

Indian Ocean, has made this archipelago an ideal place for

coral reefs to grow. Coral reefs are found along the coast of

many of the islands in various formations e.g. fringing reefs,

barrier reefs, and atolls. Coral reefs have been long known to

provide various uses for the coastal community, such as for

food, building materials, trades, etc. Recent development has

confronted the reefs to an increasing threat because of the

detrimental impact of human activities, such as from

destructive fishing techniques (dynamiting, poisoning, etc),

over exploitation of resources, pollution, etc. The total area of

coral reefs in Indonesia is estimated roughly about 85,700 km 2 .

Recent surveys indicated that only about 6 % of the Indonesian

reefs is still in excellent condition, and the rest are in various

stages of destruction. There is a strong need to rehabilitate and

manage the coral reefs in proper way so as to maintain their

sustainability. A Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management

Program (COREMAP) was launched in 1998, to respond to

this issue. This multi-sectoral program is planned for 15 years

(until 2013) and will be executed in ten provinces in Indonesia.

The first phase (1998-2001) however, will be executed in four

provinces (Riau, South Sulawesi, Papua, and Nusa Tenggara

Timur) and financially supported by the World Bank, Asia

Development Bank, and AusAID..9ICRS Plenary Addresses

2

CORAL REEFS AND CORAL REEF STUDIES IN

JAPAN

Omori M.*. *Department of Aquatic Biosciences, Tokyo

University of Fisheries, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo

108-8477, Japan Email: makomori@tokyo-u-fish.ac.jp

Japan has a long history of coral reef research. Japan was

even a leading nation in the world in this research at one time.

In June 1934, the Japanese Society for the Promotion of

Scientific Research established the Palao Tropical Biological

Station in Koror Island, Palau, which was then governed by the

Japanese Mandate of the League of Nations. The war

unfortunately stopped all studies there in 1943. In spite of the

short life span of the station, the research activities by Prof. S.

Hatai and 29 young Japanese scientists contributed

significantly to studies on coral reefs. The return of the

Ryukyu Archipelago to Japan in 1972 allowed researchers

access to coral reefs once again. The University of Ryukyus

began research at the Sesoko Marine Science Center. The

Akajima Marine Science Laboratory, which is a small non-governmental

research station, was established at Akajima

Island in 1988. Scientific research on coral reefs is being

conducted at various institutions in Japan today. Japanese

Coral Reef Society was established in 1997, and is actively

promoting exchange of information and public awareness

through research, training, and publications. The coral reefs in

the Ryukyu Archipelago will be shown by video.

AGENDA 21, INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF

INITIATIVE AND THE NEW MILLENIUM:

PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS FOR CORAL REEFS

Salvat, B.* *EPHE, ESA CNRS 8046, Université de

Perpignan, France. Email : bsalvat@univ-perp.fr

1929 (Sir Maurice Yonge), the first International Coral Reef

Symposium - ICRS - in India, 1969 , and the launching of the

International Society for Reef Studies- ISRS - in 1980 (David

Stoddart) and the International Coral Reef Initiative - ICRI - in

1995 (USA)… these are landmarks of the increasing interest

in, and concern for, coral reefs. An analysis of what has been

done and why is presented in the general context of political,

economic and social evolution over these last decades :

research for improved knowledge and management of

resources; activities at local, national, regional and global

levels; and creation and activities of international organisations

(governmental and nongovernmental) and large international

conferences. Several decades ago, the major concern focussed

on the question of what are coral reefs and how they function.

The main concern today is how to manage human activities

affecting coral reef ecosystems. The present situation -global

view of the reef ecosystem and the effects of global economic

expansion - raises the challenge of what action must be

undertaken at the beginning of the new millenium. Can we

predict what will happen and how to react at different levels

and in different fields of activities with the willingness to

preserve coral reefs for the benefit of mankind ?

RETICULATE EVOLUTION: THE ALTERNATIVE

PARADIGM.

Veron J.E.N.*. *AIMS, PMB 3, Townsville MC 4810,

Australia. Email:

For most marine organisms, ocean currents are the vehicles

of larval dispersal and are therefore the pathways of genetic

connectivity. These paths repeatedly and continuously change

over time, creating changes to the distribution ranges and

genetic compositions of species. Geographic space and

evolutionary time interact: species break apart, then re-form

into different units. For corals, this creates ‘reticulate’ patterns

in both geographic space and evolutionary time. In geographic

space, species are typically distinct in any single region but

loose their identity as definable units over very great distances.

When these patterns are envisaged in evolutionary time,

species have no time or place of origin and there are no

distinctions between geographic (sympatric) and non-geographic

(allopatric) concepts of origination. Differences

between species and subspecies taxonomic levels and between

species and ‘hybrids’ are arbitrary and/or unrecognisable.

Importantly, reticulate evolution is driven by environmental

parameters, not biological competition. Rates of evolution and

extinction (which occurs through fusions as well as

terminations of lineages) are similar over long geological

intervals. Reticulate evolution gives the overall impression of

punctuated equilibria, as is frequently observed in fossil

records.

JOURNEY TO CENTRE OF THE CENTRE: ORIGINS

OF HIGH MARINE FAUNAL DIVERSITY IN

CENTRAL INDONESIA FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF

AN ACROPOROLOGIST.

Wallace, Carden C. Museum of Tropical Queensland,

Townsville, Australia 4810. Email: carden@mtq.qld.gov.au

The reef coral mega-genus Acropora has been shown to have

had its likely origins in Africa or Europe, far from the current

“centre of diversity” of marine life, and its own location of

greatest diversity, in the Wallacea region of Indonesia. How

did this genus come to reach its current diversity focus? The

most likely explanation involves historical tectonic and

eustatic events, including partitioning of the old Tethys

Seaway during the events of the Miocene period, as well as

extinctions of a broader Pacific fauna during the more recent

eustatic periods of the Plio-Pleistocene. The continuous

presence of an open passageway through Wallacea, even

during eustatic periods, through to the present day, has ensured

that this area has retained its deepwater fauna as well as being

open to settlement by shallow water Pacific species. The

relevance of these events is collaborated by a morphological

phylogeny of the genus: a revision of these ideas, using genetic

characters, is not far behind.9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A1: Large Scale Ecology

Session A1: Large Scale Ecology of Coral Reefs: Linking Biogeography, Meta

Communities and Local Ecological Dynamics

3

SCALING THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE

CORALLINE ALGAE HYDROLITHON ONKODES TO

THE CALCIFICATION OF TWO REEFS USING IN

SITU AND REMOTE SENSING DATA.

Andréfouët Serge * , Claude Payri, J.R.M Chisholm, J.

Jaubert, H. Ripley. *University of South Florida, Dept. of

Marine Science, 140 7 th Ave. South, Saint Petersburg, Fl.

33701, USA. Email: serge@carbon.marine.usf.edu

Hydrolithon onkodes is the dominant coralline algae on the

reef flats of atoll rims in the Tuamotu archipelago and can

occupy as much as 80% of the reef surface. Conversely, on

barrier reefs in the Society islands, H. onkodes is scarce,

accounting for less than 3% percent of the total cover.

Calcification on the reef flats of Rangiroa Atoll (Tuamotu) and

Moorea Island (Society) is estimated to average 7 kg

CaCO3.m -2 .y -1 . Acquisition of multispectral (10 bands between

425-785 nm) remote sensing data using a Compact Airborne

Spectrometer Imager in 1998, enabled the distribution of H.

onkodes on these reefs to be mapped on scales of several km 2

at a spatial resolution of 1 m 2 . The oceanic margins of the atoll

reef flats were dominated by H. onkodes, interspersed with

patchy communities of encrusting corals and turfs. At Moorea,

it was necessary to combine airborne data with ground surveys

in order to map the density of algae, as this could not be

determined directly from airborne data. Considering that H.

onkodes produces 8.5-11 g CaCO3.m -2 .d -1 , its contribution to

reef flat calcification on both reefs can be compared. However,

some precautions are necessary when comparing these

contributions to the total calcification measured along entire

reefs. We discuss the hypotheses necessary to perform such

comparisons and the limits of this multi-scale exercise.

THE LENGTH OF THE LARVAL PHASE IN CORALS:

NEW INSIGHTS INTO PATTERNS OF

CONNECTIVITY.

Baird A.*. *School of Marine Biology & Aquaculture,

James Cook University, Townsville Q. 4811, Australia.

Email: andrewbaird@ozemail.com.au

One of the major goals in marine ecology is to establish the

degree of connectivity between local populations. To test the

likelihood of localised recruitment and whether or not the

geographical range of corals is influenced by dispersal ability I

compared the larval longevity of five species of acroporid

corals of contrasting distributions. Pronounced differences

were apparent among species in the capacity to delay

metamorphosis. The larvae of Acropora valida remained

competent for 90 days, compared to 60 days for A. millepora

& A. gemmifera and 14 days for A. pulchra. Furthermore, the

larvae of wide spread species settled more rapidly with peak

settlement in A. valida & A. humilis occurring on day 4

compared to day 7 for A. millepora & A. gemmifera and day

10 for A. pulchra. Successful colonization of remote locations

seems therefore to depend on both larval longevity and on

rapid settlement to enable populations to become established.

GENETIC POPULATION STRUCTURE OF A SOFT

CORAL WITH SEXUAL AND ASEXUAL MODE OF

REPRODUCTION.

Bastidas* C., Uthicke S., Fabricius K., Benzie J.A.H.

*Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No. 3

Townsville QLD 4810 and James Cook University

Townsville QLD 4811, AUSTRALIA. Email:

c.bastidas@aims.gov.au

Many anthozoans combine sexual and asexual reproductive

modes, with dispersal between reefs being achieved by sexual

propagules, whereas asexual division of colonies is suggested

as an important mechanism to gain space in the reef. This

study aimed to investigate the relative importance of sexual

and asexual reproduction, and gene flow, between 12 reef

populations of Sinularia flexibilis (Octocorallia, Alcyoniidae)

along the Great Barrier Reef (maximum of 1300 km apart).

This widely distributed Indo-Pacific species is a gamete

broadcaster that can achieve large aggregations in near shore

reefs in the GBR. The results of electrophoretic analyses of 9

polymorphic allozymes indicated that genotypic frequencies

for each population did not differ significantly from those

expected from Hardy-Weinberg predictions. This demonstrates

a dominant role of sexual reproduction in these populations,

i.e. clones do not extend considerably beyond the minimum

spatial sampling scale in the study (5 m). However, significant

genetic differentiation between some populations (FST),

indicates that gene flow is restricted between some reefs and

even sites within a reef. Nevertheless, there was no

relationship between geographic separation and genetic

differentiation. Analysis comparing groups of populations

showed no significant differentiation on a north-south gradient

or across the shelf (in relation to distance to the coast) in the

GBR.

LARVAL COMPETENCE PERIODS INFLUENCE IN

CORAL CONNECTIVITY AND SETTLEMENT: A

MODELLING APPROACH.

Blanco-Martín, Bernardo*. *School of Marine Biology and

Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville QLD.

4811, Australia. Email: Bernardo.Blanco-Martin@

jcu.edu.au

Coral ecology, recovery from disturbance, biogeography and

evolution are to a certain extent determined by the dispersive

larval phase connecting their populations on different reefs.

Various factors have been identified as driving dispersal,

including the spatial properties of reefs, hydrodynamics and

larval biology. Larval competence curves describe the relative

amount of larvae available for settling at different times from

release. A study of their influence in the connectivity and

settlement in coral populations using a spatially realistic model

is presented presented. A G.I.S. coverage of the Great Barrier

Reef was employed to create an spatial representation of the

Capricorn Bunker Group in a Cellular Automata Model. The

models were run using five different larval competence curves

(three brooders Stylophora pistillata, Pocillorpora damicornis

and Seriatopora hystrix and two spawners Acropora valida

and Acropora millepora) and two different current sets

(random and south trend). The larval outputs and inputs for the

whole system and six selected reefs were investigated. The

earlier peak in the curves presented by the brooders is

translated in a larger number of larvae settling per larvae

produced in all current conditions. The longer tail in the curves

for spawners allows them to have a higher connectivity under

random currents but not under southern flow in this reef

system. Individual reefs and coral species present very

different behaviors, particularly in their connectivity..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A1: Large Scale Ecology

4

RARITY IN COMMUNITIES OF CORAL REEF

FISHES.

Caley J.R.*, Geoffrey P. Jones, and Philip L. Munday.

*School of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook

University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.

Patterns of rarity in biological communities reflect the

interactions of processes operating on local ecological scales

and regional and biogeographic scales. A species may be rare

either in terms of its numerical abundance or its geographic

range. Its status as rare or common has important implications

for local ecological interactions and for conservation and

management issues. The study of rarity in terrestrial species

has developed rapidly in the past two decades. In comparison,

issues of rarity for marine species are poorly understood. Here

we report on analyses of rarity in coral reef fish communities.

Our analyses confirm that some patterns of rarity in these

communities are consistent with patterns previously identified

for terrestrial species while inconsistent with others. These

analyses have also highlighted the generally poor availability

of data for marine organisms with which to do such analyses.

TURBIDITY AND SEDIMENTATION EFFECTS ON

LARGE-SCALE PATTERNS OF OCTOCORAL

BIODIVERSITY.

Fabricius K.* and Glenn De’ath. *CRC for the Great

Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Australian Institute of

Marine Science, PMB No. 3, Townsville MC, Qld 4810,

Australia. Email: k.fabricius@aims.gov.au

Patterns of octocoral biodiversity were determined from

extensive reef surveys along and across the whole GBR.

Species inventories and estimates of octocoral abundances

were assessed on 361 sites (161 reefs), each covering 1000 to

4000 m 2 between 0 and 18 m depth. Mid-shelf reefs north of

Latitude 16_ are the centre of octocoral biodiversity on the

GBR. Overlapping distribution ranges of near-shore and off-shore

taxa maximise richness on mid-shelf reefs. Taxonomic

richness decreases with increasing latitude, and is low and

relatively even across the shelf south of 21__lat. Richness is

strongly affected by water clarity, and to some extent by

sediment deposits: at any given position across and along the

shelf, the generic richness is greatest in areas of low turbidity

and high sediment deposits. Percent cover of hard corals and

octocorals are poorly explained by physical and spatial

variables. There are two major management implications of

these findings: (1) Turbidity and sedimentation, which increase

with run-off from disturbed soils, affect the generic richness of

octocorals. The reefs with highest octocoral richness are < 20

km off the coasts, and thus well within the range of terrestrial

run-off, indicating potential loss of diversity through

expanding land use. (2) Taxonomic composition is more

strongly related to environmental conditions than are total hard

and soft coral cover; taxonomic inventories are thus better

indicators of human impacts than is assessment of total cover.

THE ROLE OF ENDEMISM IN CORAL SPECIES

DIVERSITY.

Douglas Fenner.* *Australian Institute of Marine Science,

Townsville, Australia. Email: d.fenner@aims.gov.au

Endemic species have been proposed to contribute to high-diversity

coral communities. Endemic species are those with

restricted biogeographic distributions. However, in lists of

endemic corals in areas such as Indonesia, most of the endemic

species listed were described quite recently. A list of all

Acropora species described in the past 30 years shows that

most were known from one area when first described, but are

now known from several areas. In this report, new records of

coral species are given for the Philippines, Indonesia, and

Australia, some of which were previously considered endemic

to another country. Additional newly published records

indicate very low numbers of endemic species, such as only

two endemic corals now known from the Philippines,

representing only about 0.5% of the coral species known there.

A comparison of different areas around the globe indicates that

the number of endemic coral species in most areas is about 0-6

species, and that the number of endemic species does not vary

with the total species diversity in an area, over a range of two

orders of magnitude of total species diversity. Thus,

endemism does not contribute to the high coral species

diversity seen on some coral reefs.

SOURCE/SINK POPULATION STRUCTURE OF

CORAL REEF FISH: THE IMPORTANCE OF PATCH

QUALITY VERSUS PATCH LOCATION AND

IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT.

Figueira W.F.*. *Duke University Marine Lab, 135 Duke

Marine Lab Rd., Beaufort, NC 28516. Email:

wff@duke.edu

Populations of fish on individual patches of coral reef are

typically thought of as open sub-populations, dynamically

coupled via larval dispersal to a larger network of patches. In

such systems, successful management using spatial closures

requires identification of areas that contribute

disproportionately to the overall metapopulation. The coral

reef literature generally considers the spatial location of a

patch to be most important, with the term “source” applied to

upstream patches due to their ability to seed downstream

(“sink”) patches with larval recruits. There is, however,

considerable evidence that factors of habitat quality within a

patch can significantly impact the demographic rates of

resident fish. In this study I use a spatially explicit computer

simulation model of a generalized reef fish to evaluate how

patch contribution to the metapopulation is affected by these

two patch characteristics: 1) relative location; and, 2)

demographic rates. Previous modeling suggests that

understanding the relative contribution of both factors can be

central to designing successful reserves, and that uninformed

placement of reserves has the potential to negatively affect the

population by displacing fishing effort onto source areas.

Conditions such as the magnitude and direction of currents,

spatial geometry of the metapopulation, and relative

differences in demography that may cause one or the other

patch characteristic to dominate are discussed with special

attention paid to the extent of local recruitment..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A1: Large Scale Ecology

5

POPULATION DYNAMICS OF REEF FISHES AT

LARGE SCALES: USING COMPUTER SIMULATIONS

TO MAKE LARGE-SCALE INFERENCES FROM

SMALL-SCALE DATA.

Forrester G.E.*, Richard R. Vance and Mark A. Steele.

*Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island,

Kingston, RI 02881-0816, USA. Email address:

gforrester@uri.edu

Field demographic data collected from fish occupying small

patch reefs (a few m 2 in area) were used to parameterize a

model that describes fish abundance on a collection of several

hundred such patches of reef (which we call a

mesopopulation). Small-scale spatial density dependence

causes the relationship between settlement and mesopopulation

abundance to become nonlinear. Under many conditions

simulated, however, the nonlinearity is very slight, suggesting

that abundance measured at large scales in the field will often

be strongly correlated with settlement rates. Overall, though,

the model establishes that density dependent interactions on

small patches of reef strongly influence population dynamics

at larger spatial scales. In all cases considered, demographic

rates that are density dependent on individual reefs also prove

density dependent on the scale of the entire reef array, and

demographic rates that are independent of density at small

scales remain so at large scales. Furthermore, observed

mesopopulation-level demographic rate functions strongly

resemble approximations generated by “scaling up” the rate

functions that apply to individual reefs. Changes in between-reef

migration rate alter the magnitude but not the qualitative

nature of these mesopopulation properties.

SPATIAL PATTERNS IN THE AGE STRUCTURE,

DEMOGRAPHY AND ABUNDANCE OF A CORAL

REEF FISH, Acanthurus triostegus.

Halford, A. R.* and Meekan, M. G. *The Australian

Institute of Marine Science, P.O. Box 264, Dampier, WA,

6713, Australia. Email: a.halford@aims.gov.au

Few studies have examined spatial patterns in the

demography of coral reef fishes at scales from 10’s to 100’s of

km. Information that is currently available is either derived

from a single locality or from localities spread across large

spatial scales (>100km). In the latter case, such studies focus

on species that are the targets of fisheries and as a result,

demographic parameters are confounded by differences in

fishing effort among localities. Here, we examine variation in

the demography, age structure and abundance of a common

surgeonfish at localities spread 200km along the length of

Ningaloo Reef, WA. As this species is not fished, demographic

patterns can be compared without confounding effects of

fishing effort. Abundances were estimated using underwater

visual census while collections of adult fish provided otoliths

for age analysis. Abundances, age structures and growth and

mortality rates were compared among localities. In addition,

we attempted to identify peaks in age structures corresponding

to successful year-classes and examined the spatial coherency

of these events.

LOCAL AND REGIONAL PATTERNS IN THE

COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF CORALS.

Hughes, T.P*., H.V. Cornell, M.J. Caley, R.H. Karlson,

C.C. Wallace, J. Wolstenholme. *Department of Marine

Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811,

Australia. Email: terry.hughes@jcu.edu.au

Community ecologists now recognize that to understand

patterns of biodiversity, there is an urgent need to synthesize

large-scale phenomena with local processes. This demands a

multi-scale or hierarchical approach. We have begun a multi-scale

study of the composition and relative abundances of

corals along the pacific diversity gradient, from indonesia to

french polynesia. Our goals are to examine how local diversity

responds to variation in the size of the regional species pool,

and to quantify the relative variation in community

composition at different scales (ie. Among adjaSchleyer cent

zones, sites, islands and regions). So far, we have sampled 52

sites on 14 islands within four regions (png, the solomon

islands, samoa, and french polynesia), a total of 1,560 x 10m

transects. Most variation in diversity and community structure

occurs at the smallest and largest scales - among depth zones

(the reef flat, crest and slope) and among geographic regions -compared

to adjacent sites and islands that are much more

homogeneous. Surveys of juvenile corals reveal major

differences in the underlying dynamics of different regions.

For example, over half of the coral recruits in png and the

solomon islands belong to genera that are absent entirely in

samoa and french polynesia. Widespread species typically vary

in abundance among regions by an order of magnitude or

more, highlighting the need to quantify biogeographical

patterns using ecological as well as taxonomic data.

BENTHIC HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS OF REEF

FISHES IN THE FLORIDA KEYS: COUPLING OF

HABITATS AND FISH DISTRIBUTIONS VIA GIS

TECHNOLOGY.

Jeffrey, C.F.G.*, C. Pattengill-Semmens, K. Buja, J.D.

Christensen, M. Coyne, M. E. Monaco, and S. Gittings.

*National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

National Ocean Service, 1305 East-West Highway, SSMC-IV,

N/SCI-1 Room 9222, Silver Spring MD, 20910. Email:

chris.jeffrey@noaa.gov

The spatial trends in the distribution of fish assemblages

within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary were

examined as part of a collaboration between the Biogeography

Program and Marine Sanctuaries Division of the National

Ocean Service and the Reef Environmental Education

Foundation (REEF). The objectives were to map and model

the abundance and large-scale distribution patterns of reef

fishes among benthic habitats, examine correlations between

habitat diversity and fish community structure, and test

hypotheses of non-uniform fish distribution patterns among

benthic habitats. The Shannon-Weaver Diversity function, _pi

ln pi, where pi is the proportion of each benthic habitat, was

calculated from digitized (Arc View GIS) habitat data. GIS

maps showing the distribution patterns and benthic habitat

associations of fishes were developed from presence-absence

fish data. Fish species richness was non-uniform among

benthic habitats. Fish distribution and abundance varied among

benthic habitats, and fish-habitat associations differed among

several reef fish taxa. Probability maps and spatially-explicit

GIS prediction models of fish-habitat associations across large

spatial scales show that benthic habitat may determine reef fish

assemblage structure and large-scale patterns of reef fish

distribution..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A1: Large Scale Ecology

6

CHANGES IN FISH AND CORAL COMMUNITIES

ACROSS AN OCEANOGRAPHIC BOUNDARY IN THE

GULF OF ADEN.

Kemp, Jeremy*. *Department of Biology, University of

York, York YO1 5DD, UK. Email: jmk100@york.ac.uk

The seas of the Arabian peninsula are characterised by high

levels of endemism in coral reef associated taxa such as

shorefishes, and by highly varied ecological communities in

the shallow sublittoral. These patterns have been attributed in

part to the presence of one of the worlds five great coastal

upwellings, occurring seasonally along the Arabian Sea coast

of the peninsula. A study of fish and coral communities on the

Gulf of Aden coast of the Republic of Yemen, at the western

boundary of the upwelling, reveals that this boundary

coincides with changes in fish assemblages and coral

communities, and with a hybrid zone in angelfish. This

supports the hypothesis that the upwelling is of central

importance to the marine biogeography of Arabia.

CONCEPTUAL CHALLENGES OF HURRICANE

ECOLOGY.

Kerr, Alexander M.*. *Osborn Memorial Laboratories,

Yale University, PO Box 208106, New Haven CT 06520-

8106 USA. Email: alexander.kerr@yale.edu

Cyclones, typhoons, and hurricanes are ecologically

instantaneous terawatt events and the most acute form of

disturbance to coral reefs likely to be observed in a human

lifetime. Still, they can occur over twice a year on some

western pacific reefs. Early empirical studies of cyclone effects

assisted in shifting the focus from equilibrium-based models of

community structure to those incorporating stochastic events.

Conclusions from most later studies, though, have been

speculative or, when qualitatively robust, rather obvious. This

history has had two results: 1) continued ignorance about how

cyclones affect variation in community structure at all but the

smallest spatial and temporal scales and 2) a widely held belief

that cyclones are unimportant ecologically because they are

infrequently observed and their effects are locally

unpredictable. The latter impression is based on a surprisingly

limited sample of opportunistic and geographically biased

studies. Still, the few large-scale observations to date suggest

increasing predictability with increasing scale. Moreover, a

considerable body of theory from fluid mechanics exists to

guide hypothesis testing. Here, i demonstrate a mean-field

approach based on linear wave theory for studying the

ecological effects of cyclone waves at local to global scales.

Shallow-water significant wave characteristics are produced

for any given reef, incorporating the effects of shoaling and

refraction on deepwater waves estimated from archived

meteorological data. I find an unanticipated wave climate that

may be useful for isolating the long-term effects of cyclones

on coral-reef community structure.

MULTI-SCALE VARIATION IN THE SIZE

STRUCTURE OF CORALS IN THE WESTERN-CENTRAL

PACIFIC.

Kospartov, Marie C. * and Terence P. Hughes. *Dept.

Marine Biology, James Cook University, Townsville,

Queensland 4811, Australia. Email:

Marie.Kospartov@jcu.edu.au

The size structure of a population is a product of its rates of

recruitment, growth, mortality, and in the case of modular

organisms, partial mortality, fission and fusion. Spatial

variation in the size structure of populations of a taxon can

therefore indicate the spatial scales at which the rates of these

demographic processes differ. We examined spatial variation

in the size structure of five coral taxa, at scales ranging from

tens of metres to thousands of kilometres. For each taxon

(Galaxea fascicularis, Montastrea curta, Pocillopora

meandrina, P. verrucosa and massive Porites spp.), variation

was greatest between depths, with populations on reef crests

having a greater proportion of small colonies and smaller

maximum sizes than reef slope populations. Regional-scale

differences (between Papua New Guinea, east Australia and

French Polynesia) also accounted for substantial amounts of

variation in size structure, whilst there was very little variation

among neighbouring sites or reefs nested within regions.

Demographic modelling indicates that these patterns are

created by modest differences in rates of recruitment and

survival. The results of this study suggest that small-scale

variation in demographic processes often exceed differences

among regions, but both can have an important influence on

population dynamics.

COLONY SIZE FREQUENCIES, MORTALITY, AND

RECRUITMENT OF ACROPORA PALMATA AND

MONTASTRAEA ANNULARIS, ANDROS ISLAND,

BAHAMAS.

Kramer, Patricia R.*, Kramer, P.A., Ginsburg, R.N.

*Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science,

University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway,

Miami, FL, 33149. Email: pkramer@rsmas.miami.edu

The population dynamics of two reef building corals,

Acropora palmata (n=2052) and Montastraea annularis

complex (n=1445) were investigated at 60 sites along the semi-isolated,

extensive (>150km) reef system of Andros Island,

Bahamas. Aerial photographs and Landsat TM imagery were

used to stratify and map reef distribution and select appropriate

spatial scales (150km and <10km) to compare the variability of

population parameters. Population data analyzed included

colony size frequencies, the amount of partial mortality (recent

and old), and the number of coral recruits. On shallow reefs

Acropora palmata comprised 65% of the adult population, 9%

of the recruits, and averaged 120-140 cm in diameter. On deep

fore reefs, M. annularis complex comprised 70% of adults, 6%

of recruits and averaged 40-50 cm. Average old mortality for

A. palmata was 38%, 27% for M. annularis and for both

species, mortality increased with size up to the mode of the

population. The variation of these parameters between local

populations is influenced by local and large-scale processes

such as wave energy, presence of coastal creeks, grazing

pressure, habitat availability and macroalgal competition.

Consequences of two recent disturbance events (bleaching and

disease) that resulted in significantly depressed local

populations are discussed. We hypothesize the Andros system

is fairly isolated from other large populations, but is well

connected between local populations..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A1: Large Scale Ecology

7

SPATIAL VARIATION IN ADULT DEMOGRAPHY

AND REEF FISH POPULATION DYNAMICS: A

SIMULATION STUDY.

Kritzer J.P.*, C.R. Davies. *CRC Reef Research Centre,

James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.

Email: Jacob.Kritzer@jcu.edu.au

An important debate in the history of reef fish ecology has

focused on the relative importance of recruitment intensity and

its modification by post-settlement events in structuring

populations. The role of adult populations in generating

recruitment events, and therefore in structuring future states,

has been largely overlooked. This study explored the

implications of spatial variation in adult demography for

population dynamics by simulation of hypothetical reef fish

metapopulations. We considered the baseline case of a

metapopulation with homogeneous demographic traits, then

introduced progressively larger subpopulations with lower

mortality or higher asymptotic sizes based upon empirical data

for a tropical lutjanid. Exact results varied with underlying

assumptions, but in general relatively small areas with lower

mortality or larger body sizes had a pronounced effect on the

stability of the system. However, the magnitude of the effect

was strongly reliant upon the degree of stochasticity in the

reproduction function, R. For example, the frequency with

which the overall population collapsed was negligible under

more static conditions (C.V. of R = 0.5) irrespective of spatial

structure. Yet, under greater stochasticity (C.V. of R = 0.8),

the baseline population collapsed in, on average, 44% of

simulation years in contrast with 19% when 25% of reefs

enabled fish to grow 10% larger.

THE PERCEPTION OF TROPHIC STRUCTURE OF

REEF FISH ASSEMBLAGES AT DIFFERENT SCALES.

Kulbicki, Michel*, Ferraris, Jocelyne. *IRD - BP. A5 -Noumea

- New Caledonia. Email: kulbicki@noumea.ird.nc

The trophic structure of reef fish assemblages is dependant

of local and large scale factors. Among local factors one may

cite reef type, substrate, coral or algae cover and among large

scale factors are island type, island size and biogeographical

region. The question is to know what dictates similarities or

differences among reef fish assemblages. In the present study

the species composition and the trophic structure of several

reef types submitted to a range of factors were analysed. Reefs

were selected from a very large data set (FISHEYE data bank).

As a first step different reef types (fringing and inner barrier

reefs) were selected within the same area (New Caledonia) and

their fish assemblages considered for similarities in species

composition and trophic structure. Then fish assemblages of

inner barrier reefs from different island types (high island and

atolls), island sizes (small, medium and large) and

biogeographical regions (West and Central Pacific) were

considered. Linear analyses (nested MANOVAs) were

performed to test if trophic structure changed within reef type,

within island or within region. Multiple factorial analysis were

then made to compare simultaneously the grouping of these

fish assemblages according to species composition and trophic

structure. The aim was to detect which factors were the most

significant in structuring these assemblages. In particular, we

wanted to test if there was a convergence in the factors

determining species composition and trophic structure. For

each reef the same number of transects was selected, based on

the relationship between species number and sampling effort.

LINKING BIOTIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL

INFLUENCES ON REEF COMMUNITIES AT

DIFFERENT SPATIAL SCALES IN BELIZE.

McField, Melanie D.* *Department of Marine Science,

Univ. of South Florida, 140 Seventh Ave South, St.

Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA, Email:

melanie@marine.usf.edu

A stratified, random (haphazard) video-based monitoring

scheme has been established at 17 windward fore-reef sites

throughout Belize's 250 km barrier reef and three off-shelf

atolls. The sites were chosen to provide the greatest

geographical coverage and to represent the widest possible

assortment of ranked environmental influences on community

structure on various spatial scales. Sites were classified by five

different environmental and management-linked influences

(fishing pressure, scuba diving pressure, proximate coastal

development, fluvial influence and wave exposure).

Multivariate analysis techniques, including non-metric multi-dimensional

scaling (MDS) plots, were then used to discern

the relative importance of various environmental influences on

reef community structure by determining the optimal set of

environmental influences which “best explain” the biotic

community structure. These comparisons can be made on sub-sets

of sites with varying spatial resolution, determining which

spatial scale is most relevant to particular environmental

influences. Understanding the interaction of different

environmental and biotic influences on varying spatial and

temporal scales represents a challenge to reef managers with

limited jurisdictional authority and illustrates the need for

more regional coordination of management efforts.

MODELING THE RECOVERY PROCESS AFTER

MASS BLEACHING.

Muko, Soyoka*, Kazuhiko Sakai, and Yoh Iwasa.

*Department of Biology, Kyushu University, JAPAN.

Email: muko@bio-math10. biology.kyushu-u.ac.jp

In coral communities, the composition of morphological

types is very different in each habitat. In Okinawa, Japan,

"branching Acropora spp." dominated the protected site, whilst

"tabular Acropora spp." were abundant at the exposed site

before mass bleaching occurred in 1998. The study of recovery

process provides us an opportunity to understand the

demographic processes, i.e., larval settlement, growth, and

death, which form the observed patterns. We formulate a

simple model incorporated the space-limited recruitment and

growth for the dynamics of coverage of the two morphotypes.

The result shows that recovery process after catastrophic event

has three phases. [1] In the beginning, the relative abundance

of the two types is controlled by the ratio of larval settlement.

[2] When vacant space becomes occupied, both settlement of

larvae and growth of settled colonies affect the dynamics of

coverage. [3] After free space is depleted, both larval

settlement and growth become very small. Now the slow

process of colony death comes to have an influence and causes

the final convergence to the equilibrium composition. The

dominance of table-like corals at the exposed site is often

regarded as the morphological adaptation for the severe wave

action. However the same pattern can be explained by larger

recruitment rate of table-like corals, if the total amount of

recruitment is large. In order to distinguish the two hypothesis,

we are investigating the demographic processes of the two

morphotypes at three different sites in Sesoko Island,

Okinawa..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A1: Large Scale Ecology

8

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL SCALING OF PROCESSES

ON CORAL REEFS.

Mumby, Peter J* *Centre for Tropical Coastal

Management Studies, Ridley Building, The University,

Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK. Email:

p.j.mumby@ncl.ac.uk

Coral reefs are hugely complex environments governed by

physical and biological processes which act over a wide range

of spatial and temporal scales. Attempts to model reef

processes, such as productivity or larval connectivity, are

hindered by this complexity because the scales at which many

processes occur are poorly understood, and it is neither

computationally tractable nor biologically realistic to simulate

many processes, acting at different scales, in the same model.

Consider, for example, the problem of modelling

metapopulation dynamics of corals among reefs. A spatial

model of larval transport may need to represent mesoscale

oceanic circulation of 100s km whereas the processes

determining larval settlement space (e.g. herbivory, exposure)

may act at scales of 0.001 km - 1 km. Clearly, metre-scale

processes cannot be incorporated easily into a model that

represents millions of metres. However, a better understanding

of the scale-dependency of physical and biological processes

will not only improve the modelling of such processes, but it

may provide a hierarchical framework in which multiple

models can be nested according to scale. Here, I discuss how

geostatistics, cartographic models, field survey, and remote

sensing might be integrated to create a hierarchical model of

reef structure and associated physical environments.

A FUNCTIONAL-GROUP APPROACH TO THE

DIVERSITY OF CORALS ON MULTIPLE SCALES.

Murdoch, Thaddeus J. T.* and Richard B. Aronson.

*Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin

Island, AL 36528, USA. Email: tmurdoch@disl.org

Phylogenetic classifications do not reflect the ecological

functions of benthic marine organisms. An alternative is to

classify benthic organisms by adaptive strategy. This approach

has been successfully used by plant ecologists in addressing

issues of biodiversity and ecosystem function. Coral reefs are

exposed to environmental processes that covary over a wide

range of spatial and temporal scales. Coral taxa that share

morphologies and reproductive strategies should respond to the

physical and biotic environment in similar, predictable ways.

Two studies in the Western Atlantic demonstrate how

functional groups of corals differ in distribution and adaptive

strategy. First, in a survey of the Florida reef tract, we

detected high variability in coral cover from reef to reef, but

very low variability between sites within each reef. Only one

functional group was responsible for this pattern. The

differences in distribution were a direct result of differences in

morphology and reproductive mode. Second, the recent

demise of Acropora cervicornis in Belize from white-band

disease indicates that not all corals respond to environmental

change in the same manner. When A. cervicornis was

eliminated, only one functional group increased

opportunistically in abundance in response to the relaxation of

competition. These results can be used to predict what coral

reefs of the Caribbean will look like in the next millenium.

THE INTEGRATED GROWTH RESPONSE OF CORAL

REEFS TO MONSOON FORCING: MORPHOMETRIC

ANALYSIS OF REEFS IN MALDIVES.

Naseer, Abdulla* and Bruce G Hatcher, *Dept of Biology,

Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4J1,

Canada, Email: anaseer@is2.dal.ca

Reefs of Maldives display asymmetric geomorphologies in

their arrangement on the atoll rims and within atoll lagoons. In

this study we seek empirical relationships among patterns of

coral reef growth, morphology and environmental forcing in

Maldives. Reefs on the oceanward rims of atolls have wider

and more continuous reef flats than those lining the rims facing

the sea between lines of atolls. These characteristics reflect

broad-scale spatial variation in time-averaged, physical-biological

control of reef growth, but have not been quantified.

We hypothesize that monsoon forcing interacts with

antecedent reef platform arrangements to produce

characteristic growth configurations and predictable reef

morphologies. The hypothesis is tested by the classification of

LANDSAT-7 ETM+ imagery to measure hundreds of reefs

along the N-S and E-W axis of the archipelago, and to

calculate morphometric indices (e.g. ratio of reef flat to lagoon

area). Well-defined gradients in monsoon forcing (i.e. swell

and wind wave fields, surface currents, upwelling and

precipitation) and antecedent platform structure are quantified

along the same dimensions, and related to the morphometrics

with multivariate techniques. Preliminary results determine the

scales of similarity between asymmetries in reef

geomorphology and monsoon forcing. The relationships can be

used to infer patterns of reef development during the

Quaternary, and to predict reef growth responses to global

climate change in a sensitive atoll nation.

THE BENTHIC COMMUNITIES OF THE GREAT

BARRIER REEF: A LANSCAPE ECOLOGY

APPROACH.

Ninio R. * *Australian Institute Of Marine Science, Pmb

3, Townsville, Qld 4810 Australia.

R.NINIO@AIMS.GOV.AU

At a large spatial scale, the Great Barrier Reef is a mosaic of

patches formed by clusters of reefs with comparable histories

of disturbance. Within each patch, reefs display similar

temporal trends in cover of hard coral, soft coral and algae.

The overall dynamics of this ‘patchwork mosaic’ will depend

on the size and frequency of disturbance and resultant rates of

recovery. We use data collected by the Australian Institute of

Marine Science as part of the Long Term Monitoring Program

to examine the effects of three different types of disturbance

(cyclones and storms, Crown of Thorns Starfish and bleaching

of hard corals) and the composition of benthic communities on

the dynamics of this mosaic. We investigate the spatial scales

at which each of these disturbances operates and how

community composition influences the outcomes of these

disturbance events..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A1: Large Scale Ecology

9

PERSISTENCE IN CARIBBEAN CORAL

COMMUNITIES OVER BROAD SPATIAL AND

TEMPORAL SCALES.

Pandolfi, John M.*. *Department of Paleobiology, National

Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution,

Washington D.C. 20560-0121, USA. Email:

pandolfi.john@nmnh.si.edu

The degree to which coral reef communities are largely open,

with com-position depending upon the regional species pool,

or are partially closed, with limited species membership, is a

key component in understanding their ecological dynamics. I

examined the structure of Pleistocene Caribbean coral

communities using a hierarchical sampling design at broad

spatial and temporal scales. Significant differences in the

composition of coral communities from the leeward reef crest

among three islands (San Andrés, Curaçao, and Barbados)

during the last interglacial, 125 ka (thousand years) ago, were

driven by variability in the relative abundance of the same 4 or

5 abundant taxa. At Barbados, coral composition remained

constant from 220-125 ka, but differed during the 104 ka reef-building

episode. However, the 104-ka community was closer

in composition to older coral communities from Barbados than

it was to communities from San Andrés or Curaçao.

Remarkably, separate analyses on the composition of the rare

taxa (data compiled using 1 hr searches) and those of the

common taxa (data compiled using 40-m transects) gave

highly concordant results, suggesting the composition of the

rare taxa is correlated with that of the common, structurally

dominant corals. These Pleistocene data point to a high degree

of order in coral communities over broad spatial and temporal

scales and support the importance of local influences in

determining reef coral community structure.

ECOLOGICAL VERSUS EVOLUTIONARY LIMITS TO

DIVERSITY: SPECIES PACKING ON CORAL REEFS.

Roberts, Callum M.* *Environment Department,

University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK. Email:

cr10@york.ac.uk

Studies of coral reef diversity in the 1970s and 1980s

focussed on mechanisms promoting co-existence of species

within habitats. Much of this research examined ecological

constraints on species packing, such as the degree to which

species were specialized in resource use. While such studies

were conducted in many parts of the world, one interesting

pattern that most overlooked was the considerable regional

variation in species richness throughout the tropics. Some

regions have much larger species pools than others, offering

fertile material with which to explore constraints to species’

coexistence. I explore differences in species-packing (within-habitat,

or alpha diversity) among reefs in the Caribbean (Saba,

Bonaire, Belize), Red Sea (Egypt) and Pacific Ocean (Palau).

These reefs differed widely in the size of their species’ pools

(gamma diversity). At each site, fish were censused from the

same habitat (outer slope at 15m deep), by the same observer

using the same method (stationary point counts). Alpha

diversity increased linearly with the size of the species pool

suggesting that, on outer slope habitats, levels of species

packing increase directly with the number of species present.

Evolution and biogeography trump local ecological effects.

These results contrast markedly with findings in the literature

that similar-sized patch reefs in the Caribbean and on the Great

Barrier Reef had similar levels of species packing despite

widely different species’ pools. Possible reasons for these

differences will be explored.

LARGE SCALE ECOLOGY AND IMPROVED REEF

MANAGEMENT

Sale, Peter F.* *Great Lakes Institute for Environmental

Research & Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of

Windsor, Windsor ON Canada N9B3P4. Email:

sale@uwindsor.ca

There is growing awareness that coral reef communities may

be interconnected at quite large spatial scales, and that their

management should take account of this fact. Their inter-connection

arises both from transport of nutrients and

pollutants, and from that of propagules, however, the

propagules of many taxa are proving to be far more than

passive particles and this complicates the story. Current

ecological research onrecruitment dynamics of fish, and to a

lesser extent, corals, is beginning to provide evidence of the

correct spatial scale at which to view coral reefs as inter-connected

by larval dispersal. New techniques are being

proposed that may facilitate estimates of the extent of this

inter-connection. I will briefly review what is known about the

large scale ecology of coral reef community dynamics, and

then outline an approach to bring studies of recruitment

dynamics into the baseline-building process when

implementing sustainable management at regional scales.

Examples from the Caribbean and from the Great Barrier Reef

will be considered.

SPATIAL VARIATION AND PATTERNS IN BENTHIC

COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

Swanson, D.W. M. Chiappone and S.L. Miller*. *The

National Undersea Research Center, University of North

Carolina at Wilmington, 515 Caribbean Drive, Key Largo,

Florida, 33037, USA. Email: dwswanson@hotmail.com

To better understand how communities are structured at

multiple spatial scales in the Florida Keys National Marine

Sanctuary (FKNMS), a two-stage stratified, random sampling

design was initiated in 1999. Design features include sampling

multiple sites within no-take zones or reserves and reference

areas, and comparison of sites within and among benthic

habitat types, and among regions. One-hundred and four sites

were surveyed, spanning over 200 km. The number of sites

sampled within each habitat type was optimized based the

existing benthic habitat map of the FKNMS, and pilot studies

that used sample design statistics to assess spatial variation in

measured parameters. Rapid assessment surveys included

measurements of cover and species richness of sessile marine

organisms, stony coral (adult and juvenile) and octocoral

abundance, and stony coral size and condition. Significant

regional, habitat, and reef differences were apparent. For

example, scleractinian coral and octocoral abundance, species

richness of cnidarians and sponges, and the frequency of algal

overgrowth of live coral tissue causing lesions varied

significantly among regional sectors within the 8-12 m habitat

type. Juvenile coral density and coral cover, however, were

similar among regions. Many reserves differed significantly

from reference areas, due mostly to bias in original siting of

the reserves. Data from the program establish a baseline to

monitor community structure at multiple spatial scales..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A1: Large Scale Ecology

10

SPATIAL VARIATION IN CORAL BIODIVERSITY AT

INTERMEDIATE SCALES: EXAMPLES FROM

OCEANIC ISLANDS.

Spalding, Mark D.*. *Cambridge Coastal Research Unit,

Department of Geography, Downing St, Cambridge, UK

Email: mark.spalding@wcmc.org.uk

Patterns of biodiversity on coral reefs are increasingly well

understood at the fine resolution of the reef profile. At the

other extreme, increasing amounts of information are

becoming available describing biodiversity patterns, at global

and regional levels. Between these two extremes, an

understanding of patterns in reef diversity is more limited. In

this paper the existing knowledge of spatial variation over

scales of 1 to 100km is examined in more detail. New data are

presented for coralline and high-island reef systems in the

central Indian Ocean which show considerable variation in

spatial patterns of reef fish communities between different reef

systems. Communities in the Chagos Archipelago show

considerable homogeneity between locations and between

atolls, by contrast the low island reefs of the southern

Seychelles show considerable variation both across and

between atolls and other reef structures. Fringing reefs in the

high islands of the northern Seychelles reveal event greater

spatial variation in reef fish community structures. A

theoretical framework to explain these patterns is presented.

Finally the implications of these patterns for the design of

protected areas systems are considered

THE CORAL REEFS OF BALI, BEFORE THE 1998-

BLEACHING EVENT: A PHASE SHIFT CAUSED BY

EUTROPHICATION OR REGIONAL UPWELLING.

van Woesik, Robert*. *Department of Chemistry, Biology

and Marine Science, The University of the Ryukyus,

Senbaru 1, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan. Email:

b984138@sci.u-ryukyu.ac.jp

There was a major change to the coral reefs of southeastern

Bali, Indonesia, between September 1992 and September

1997. The coral reefs changed from being dominated by corals

to being dominated by macroalgae, sponges and other filter

feeders. In 1992, the upper reef slopes of Sanur and Nusa Dua

supported >30% coral cover and a high coral diversity. The

average diameter of Acropora spp. and Seriatopora spp.

colonies, the dominant corals in terms of abundance, was 17 to

42 cm. The same reefs in 1997 supported 2-3 cm colonies and

approximately 15% coral cover, dominated largely by

encrusting Montipora, Porites spp., faviids, macroalgae,

sponges and zoanthids. Such a change immediately evokes a

response of 'local eutrophication'. Although local

eutrophication is not discounted as a contributing factor, a

regional upwelling may have exacerbated the effect through

the provision of nutrients. Evidence of a regional upwelling

was found along the southeast coast of Bali at the time of the

survey using SEAWIFS satellite imagery and proxy cues in

Porites samples (i.e., elevated Ba/Ca ratios). This upwelling

and regional phase shift occurred one year prior to, and

possibly not independent of, the 1998 ENSO.

THE EFFECT OF EL NINO ON THE DISTRIBUTION

OF REEF-ASSOCIATED LABRID FISHES IN THE

EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN.

Victor, Benjamin* Gerard Wellington, D. Ross Robertson.

*GSM, University of California, Irvine, CA 92604 Email:

ben@coralreeffish.com

We surveyed the labrid reef fishes at multiple sites in the

eastern Pacific Ocean before, during, and after the recent El

Nino-Southern Oscillation event (ENSO). The only prominent

changes in labrid biogeography noted were the extension of

two tropical eastern Pacific species into Baja California

(Thalassoma virens and Stethojulis bandanensis) and a

massive ENSO-associated settlement of S. bandanensis onto

the Galapagos Islands where the species was previously rare.

Analysis of daily otolith increments revealed that the pelagic

larval duration of the new arrivals of S. bandanensis was

relatively short (about one month) and no different from the

pelagic larval duration for the species recorded at other

locations in the eastern Pacific Ocean before and during ENSO

as well as from the western Pacific Ocean at Palau and the

Cook Islands. The results suggest that a one month pelagic

larval duration was sufficient for spread among isolated island

groups in this region. Adults of this species were present at

some of their new locations during the subsequent cold La

Nina period.

REJUVENATION OR RUN-DOWN? THE LONG-TERM

RESPONSE TO DISTURBANCE OF FIVE CORAL

COMMUNITIES AT LIZARD ISLAND, GBR.

Wakeford, M. * and T.J. Done. *Australian Institute of

Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, Townsville,

Queensland, 4810, Australia. Email:

m.wakeford@aims.gov.au

Following disturbance to corals (eg crown-of-thorns starfish

outbreaks, coral bleaching and cyclones) there is potential for

fundamental changes in the benthic community, such as phase

shifts and alternate states. Large-scale and long-term shifts

from reef building to non-reef building communities are of

particular concern. We investigated a long-term photographic

record (1981 – 1999) of coral communities at Lizard Island for

evidence of such changes. Stereo-photographs taken of five

permanent sites were analysed to gauge fine-scale community

dynamics over time. During the study period, Lizard Island

was affected by a cyclone, coral bleaching and two outbreaks

of crown-of-thorns starfish. Diversity, species composition

and age/size frequency distribution were monitored at each site

and used to assess changes in the structural extent and

complexity of the reef. The trajectories of the coral

communities were characterised by varying degrees of

rejuvenation and run-down following disturbance. At one

extreme, there was no tendency for changes in the coral

composition and cover. However, a reduction in the maximum

colony size reached by Acropora plates reflected a decrease in

the interval between disturbances. This suggests that colony

size of plate Acropora may be a useful indicator of site

resilience. At the other extreme, one site had been transformed

into bare pavement supporting very little coral due to poor

recruitment and survival..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A1: Large Scale Ecology

11

EARLY LIFE HISTORY TRAITS, ADULT BODY SIZE,

AND EXTENT OF GEOGRAPHIC RANGE IN GULF OF

CALIFORNIA REEF FISHES.

Zapata, Fernando A.*. *Department of Biology,

Universidad del Valle, Apartado Aéreo 25360, Cali,

Colombia. Email: fazr@biologia.univalle.edu.co

Because adult reef fishes are sedentary and reef

environments are patchily distributed, reef fishes are dispersed

mostly by currents during their early life history (ELH). ELH

traits are thus considered to be determinants of dispersal

capability and extent of geographic distribution. This view,

however, has not been adequately demonstrated. To examine

whether egg type (P = pelagic, NP = non-pelagic) and

presence/absence of a pelagic prejuvenile stage (PPS) affect

extent of geographic distribution, I classified Gulf of

California reef fishes (N = 196) into four categories with

combinations of the above traits. Species endemic to the

Mexican Pacific had a greater proportion of species with NP

eggs than non-endemic species. Whereas 50% of the species

with NP eggs and no PPS were endemic, < 1% of the

remaining species were geographically restricted. On average,

fishes with NP eggs and no PPS also had smaller geographic

ranges than other species. Because species with NP eggs and

no PPS are smaller than other species, the effects of ELH traits

are confounded with those of adult body size. Large species

should have greater dispersal potential because fecundity is

positively correlated with adult body size. In fact, size of

geographic range was positively correlated with maximum

adult length, but only in species with NP eggs and no PPS.

Partitioning of the confounding effects of ELH traits and adult

body size by a two-way ANOVA confirmed that species with

NP eggs and no PPS were the most geographically restricted,

and that there was neither a significant effect of body size nor

a significant interaction between the two factors. This study

thus provides evidence that ELH traits influence extent of

geographic distribution in marine reef fishes..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A2: Planktonic Food Webs

Session A2: Planktonic Food Webs in Coral Reef Waters: trophic Structure,

Functioning and Interactions with Benthic and Pelagic Communities

12

PARTICULATE ORGANIC CARBON BUDGET AND

POC FLUX IN A FRINGING CORAL REEF AT

MIYAKO ISLAND, JAPAN.

Casareto B.E.* K. Yoshida and Y. Suzuki. *Laboratory of

Aquatic Science Consultant Co., LTD, Meishin BLDG.,

Kamiikedai 1-14-1, Ota-ku, Tokyo 145-0064, Japan. Email:

CASARETOBE@aol.com

The composition and the concentration of particulate organic

matter were comprehensively investigated on a fringing coral

reef area at Bora Bay of Miyako Island, Japan. Particulate

organic carbon and nitrogen (POC, PON), plankton

abundance, specific composition and its daily variation were

studied for seven size classes (0.8 to 8 µm, 8 to 22 µm, 22 to

53µm, 53 µm to 0.106 mm, 0.106 mm to 0.5 mm, 0.5 to 1 mm

and > 1mm) within the bay and in an outer influenced area.

Based on the species composition, plankton was classified as

“reef-lagoon” and “open ocean” plankton with the purpose to

evaluate POC fluxes towards the open ocean. Main POC

contribution within the bay was due to larval stages of benthic

fauna (120 µgC.l -1 ), nanoplankton composed by epiphytic

microalgae (pseudoplankton) and filamentous cyanobacteria

(124 µgC.l -1 ), and picoplankton flagellates (65 µgC.l -1 ). Faecal

pellets and detritus were also very abundant reaching 82 µgC.l -1

. The organic carbon budget within Bora bay (477 µgC.l -1 )

was slightly higher than that of the outer influenced area (437

µgC.l -1 ). Plankton originating from the bay influenced the

outer area, being also significantly transported to deep layers.

All these features showed that there is a net flux of organic

matter from bay towards the open ocean. The amount of this

flux as net organic carbon was estimated to be 8 to 17 kgC day -1

. A degradation experiment carried out during 150 days

indicated that 1 to 5 kgC day -1 of the exported amount of

organic carbon are of refractory nature.

IMPORTANCE OF PICOCYANOBACTERIA IN

CORAL REEF AREAS: A REVIEW

Charpy Loïc*, Blanchot Jean IRD, COM, rue de Batterie

des Lions 13007 Marseille, France Email:

lcharpy@com.univ-mrs.fr

Picocyanobacteria contribution to phytoplankton biomass

and production was studied during the last decade in Pacific

coral reef areas. Compiled data from literature show that

Synechococcus were mostly dominant in coral reef waters,

even when nitrogen is totally depleted like in Tuamotu atoll

lagoons. The switch in dominance from Prochlorococcus in

open ocean to Synechococcus in coral reef lagoons does not

seem to be related to N availability. Interpretation of such

results relies probably on differences in top-down control by

benthic and planktonic grazers and/or on the ability of some

strains of Synechococcus to fix N2.

THE NEED FOR TAXONOMIC EXPERTISE IN

FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY OF CORAL REEF

PHYTOPLANKTON

Delesalle B*. EPHE - ESA CNRS 8046, 52 Av. de

Villeneuve, F-66860 Perpignan Cedex. Email: bd@univ-perp.

fr

It is a cliché to state that taxonomy was not favoured during

the past 20 years. This situation especially applies to

phytoplankton ecology in coral reef waters. In fact, taxonomy

requires an extensive background knowledge and is often

deterrently time consuming. Consequently, phytoplankton

studies were often restricted to the 'easy' and rapid

measurement of the chlorophyll a concentration, roughly

considered as a good estimate of the phytoplankton biomass. A

better insight in the phytoplankton composition was gained

with the development of advanced techniques such as size

fractionation, epifluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry.

However, these techniques were mainly applied to

picophytoplankton whereas the nanophytoflagellates remained

understudied. Several recent studies conducted in French

Polynesian atolls has proven the functional importance of this

compartment. Firtsly, the selective feeding of the pearl oyster

Pinctada margaritifera was demonstrated using an elegant

approach combining optical microscopy and HPLC pigment

analysis. Secondly, taxonomic surveys undertaken within the

frame of studies on harmful algal blooms showed the presence

of several unknown species, some of them belonging to

potentially toxic genera, e.g. the Haptophyte

Chrysochromulina or the diatom Pseudonitzschia. Obviously,

the identification of the phytoplankton species will be needed

in future ecological studies of the planktonic foodwebs in coral

reefs, using advanced techniques such as SEM, TEM and

molecular biology.

LINKAGE BETWEEN BACTERIOPLANKTON AND

CORAL REEF BENTHOS: SMALL SCALE SPATIAL

VARIATION IN DOC, INORGANIC NUTRIENTS AND

BACTERIOPLANKTON GROWTH.

van Duyl F.C.*, G.J. Gast. *Netherlands Institute for Sea

Research, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, The

Netherlands. Email: duyl@nioz.nl

This study focuses on the links between coral reef contact

water characteristics with respect to dissolved organic carbon

(DOC) and inorganic nutrients (DIN, DIP) and

bacterioplankton growth. At 5 reef stations along the SW coast

of Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles) 6 different water types were

sampled and analyzed for DOC, DIN, DIP, bacterial

production and abundance: 4 reef water types (live coral

surface contact water (CS), reef crevice water (RC), reef

bottom water (RB), reef overlying water (RO)) and 2 reference

water types collected offshore from each station at 2 and 8 m

depth. Within stations consistent patterns in the different

variables were found. DOC distribution suggests that live

stony corals are the major source for the enhanced DOC

concentrations over reefs. DIN was highest in RC water

suggesting that crevices and not the sandy sediments between

corals are the major net N regenerating spaces. Enhanced DIP

concentrations suggest net P regeneration in RC and CS water.

Highest specific growth rates of bacterioplankton were

established in the CS water. Growth in crevices was also

significantly enhanced compared to growth in reference water.

Significant coupling between bacterioplankton growth and

DIN suggests N-limitation of bacterial growth in CS and RO

water. In RC and RB water, available DOC might be the

growth limiting factor..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A2: Planktonic Food Webs

13

IMPORT AND EXPORT OF NET-ZOOPLANKTON TO

AND FROM CORAL REEFS.

Hamner, William M.* and Colin, Patrick L. *University of

California Los Angeles, Dept. Organismal Biology, Ecology

& Evolution, Box 951606, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606,

USA, E-mail: hamner@biology.ucla.edu

The so-called “coral reef paradox” contrasts coral reefs as

oases of high biomass and diversity surrounded by oceanic

waters supposedly devoid of nutrients and plankton. We

review the literature on zooplankton near the windward reef

face and conclude that there is probably sufficient input across

the windward reef from net-zooplankton alone, irrespective of

net input from micro-zooplankton, phytoplankton and bacteria,

to account for the high biomass and diversity of coral reefs.

We then present new data from Palau where enormous

quantities of fish eggs and invertebrate larvae are exported

seaward from windward reefs on falling tides. Surprisingly,

although exported larvae are advected rapidly seaward, many

exported larvae do not disperse into oceanic currents but

instead they are retained in an island boundary layer separated

from oceanic currents by coastal shelf fronts. On rising tides,

boundary layer water and previously exported larvae return to

and reenter the reef complex. Flux between oceanic, boundary

layer and lagoon waters near coral reefs must be reevaluated.

ORGANIC INPUTS TO REEF ECOSYSTEMS

CONTRIBUTE TO NEW PRODUCTION. – HOW

MUCH? – SO WHAT?.

Hatcher B.G.* *Department of Biology, Dalhousie

University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3N 1G8. Email:

Bhatcher@is.dal.ca

The new production of an ecosystem is that proportion of its

net primary production during an ecological cycle that utilizes

allochthonous nutrients in the synthesis of organic material.

The remainder is recycled production that utilizes

autochthonous nutrients. The ratio of new to recycled

production (i.e. the f-ratio) reflects the relative importance of

nutrient inputs from outside the ecosystem, and is a function of

the degree of system closure. Large discrepancies between the

theoretical and operational definitions of new production

challenge the application of the theory to coral reef

ecosystems. The conceptual model of production for coral

reefs portrays them as relatively closed ecosystems with

efficient recycling, and low levels of dependence on external

nutrient inputs for primary production. Net ecosystem (i.e.

excess) production as defined by inorganic carbon and nutrient

fluxes has been estimated to approximate zero, suggesting that

reefs have little capacity for sustained export of organics. This

model is compromised if new nutrients supplied through the

capture and remineralization in situ of advected particulates

are recognized as contributing to new production. Calculations

based on a growing body of measurements of organic inputs to

reefs indicate that the new production of reef ecosystems in

hydrodynamically open and nearshore environments exceeds

excess production by 100% to 1000% (corresponding f-ratios

may exceed 0.2). The high export production implied by these

parameter values can reconcile large losses of detrital material

from reefs, but do not necessarily inform the estimation of

extractable yields from reef fisheries.

PLANKTON-BENTHOS COUPLING ON A

CARIBBEAN FRINGING REEF.

Land L.S.*, R.A. Eustice, J.C. Lang and S.A. Macko. *P.O.

Box 539, Ophelia, VA 22530, USA. Email: JandL@rivnet.net

Trophodynamic processes on coral reefs are complex and

poorly understood in detail. Near Discovery Bay, Jamaica,

particulate organic matter (POM–a mixture of phytoplankton

and other suspended organic particles), net zooplankton, some

planktivorous benthic invertebrates, and most benthic algae,

are more depleted in 13 C than most zooxanthellate cnidarians

(Millepora, octocorals, scleractinians, corallimorphs,

zoanthids), other reef animals, cyanobacteria and the seagrass

Thalassia (å N = 290 ¶

13 C analyses). Organic matter released

by the zooxanthellate cnidarians, probably as mucus and

dissolved organic exudates, may constitute a significant source

of carbon for many (especially non-planktivorous) reef

animals. In contrast, POM and net zooplankton, along with

most reef invertebrates and reef-associated fishes, are

generally more enriched in 15 N than benthic photosynthesizers,

such as cyanobacteria, algae, Thalassia, and the zooxanthellate

cnidarians (å N = 190 ¶

15 N analyses). Hence, much of the

nitrogen present in the tissues of zooxanthellate cnidarians on

this reef system probably originates as dissolved inorganic

nitrogen that is initially utilized by their symbiotic microaglae,

and which overwhelms the nitrogen derived from POM and

zooplankton ingested by the animal hosts.

PICOPHYTOPLANKTON AND HETEROTROPHIC

PROTISTS CONTRIBUTION TO THE DIET OF THE

PEARL OYSTER PINCTADA MARGARITIFERA IN THE

TAKAPOTO ATOLL (TUAMOTU ARCHIPELAGO,

FRENCH POLYNESIA).

Loret, P. Blanchot L.P.* J, Delesalle B, Le Gall S,

Jonquières G, Pastoureaud A, Dupuy C, Caisey X. Antenne

*IRD Station Biologique de Roscoff, BP 74, F-29682

Roscoff, France Email: blanchot@sb-roscoff.fr

The pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera is principally reared

in atoll lagoons where picophytoplanktonic biomass and

production is dominant. It was shown that under in situ

conditions, P. margaritifera do not efficiently retain these

picoparticles. The retention efficiency was negligible for

Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus and only 30%.

Pico/nanoeukaryotes were retained. Grazing experiments

showed that pearl oyster retain efficiently ciliates (>90%) and

dinoflagellates (99%). The ciliate Protocruzia was isolated

from the lagoon. The maximal growth was obtained with the

Synechococcus isolated from the lagoon. This ciliate was used

as a picoplantonivorous model. The hypothesis of a trophic

link between picoplanktonic communities and bivalves was

tested. After being biolabelled with the autofluorescent

Synechococcus isolated from the lagoon, the ciliate

Protocruzia was offered as a prey to the pearl oyster. The high

densities of ciliates observed in the stomach contents

demonstrated that it was ingested by the bivalve. As a

consequence, heterotrophic protists significantly contribute to

the diet of the pearl oyster whereas picocyanobacteria play a

minor role in the diet of this bivalve. From our experiments we

concluded that heterotrophic protists play a significant role in

the diet of the pearl oysters and can be considered as a

valuable trophic link between picophytoplankton and the

bivalves..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A2: Planktonic Food Webs

14

FEEDING AND MOVEMENT IN NOCTURNAL

PLANKTIVORES:

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TROPHO-DYNAMICS OF

CORAL REEFS.

Marnane M.J.* Department of Marine Biology, James

Cook University, Townsville, Qld. 4811. Australia. Email:

Michael.Marnane@jcu.edu.au

Cardinalfishes (Family Apogonidae) form the major

component of nocturnal planktivore assemblages on Indo-Pacific

reefs. Their high abundances coupled with fast

population turnover rates suggest that cardinalfishes are likely

to play an important role in reef tropho-dynamics. To

investigate this role, feeding and foraging movements were

quantified in seven common species of cardinalfishes from the

One Tree Reef lagoon, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Of fish

collected at dusk, 5% to 36% had identifiable material in their

stomachs compared with 64% to 93% of fish collected at

dawn, suggesting predominantly nocturnal feeding in all

species. Stomach content analysis revealed generalised,

overlapping diets in most species, consisting largely of benthic

prey and emergent plankton. At night cardinalfishes moved

into a range of habitats to feed and displayed a striking degree

of spatial segregation between species. During the day species

shared restricted resting sites on the reef. Fish displayed a

strong fidelity to diurnal resting sites, with tagged individuals

returning to within an average of 35 to 67 cm of resting

positions daily over periods of up to 18 months. These results

suggest that cardinalfishes play a functionally different role to

that of diurnal planktivores, concentrating energy and nutrients

from a range of reef habitats into restricted sites on the reef.

This accrual of resources, in the form of fish biomass and

faeces is likely to have important consequences for predator

and detritivore communities.

PHYTOPLANKTON PRODUCTIVITY AND

HYDROLOGY OF ROCAS ATOLL (BRAZIL).

Nascimento Feitosa, Fernando Antônio do, de Oliveira

Passavante J.Z.* *Departament of Oceanography UFPE

Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Email: zanon@npd.ufpe.br

The Rocas Atoll a Biological Brazilian Reserve is located at

the South Atlantic Ocean at 3º51’30’’S and 33º49’29’’W,

around 265km offshore from Natal City Rio Grande do Norte

State. This Atoll ocupies a 3km 2 area being an arid and of

calcareous formation free of anthropic influence. This study

was carried out in order know the area hydrology and the

phytoplankton community production. In January/99 diurnal

sampling were made at surface at low tide in three natural

pools inside the Atoll( Tartarugas, Âncoras and Barretão) and

one collection out side to measure the in situ productivity by

the 14 C method and the biomass by the spectrophotometric

method. Concurrent hydrological data(salinity, temperature,

pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and silicate)

were obtaind for comparation with the phytoplankton. The

results showed that the area is free of pollution with oxygen

saturation over 100%, the pH is alcaline and salinity of

35,29‰, the silicate varied from 8,91 to 16,51µmol.l -1 , nitrate

from 0,66 to 1,34µmol.l -1 , nitrito from 0,04 to 0,06µmol.l -1 e

phosphate from 0,01 to 0,02µmol.l -1 and the chlorophyll a

concentration varied from 0,64 to 1,10mg.m -3 .

FIELD AND NUMERICAL STUDY OF THE

PLANKTONIC FOOD WEB IN TAKAPOTO ATOLL

LAGOON (FRENCH POLYNESIA): IMPLICATIONS

FOR THE FARMING OF PEARL OYSTERS.

Niquil N.*, Stéphane Pouvreau, Asma Sakka, Louis

Legendre, Bruno Delesalle. *Univ. La Rochelle, F-17042 La

Rochelle Cedex 1. & EPHE-ESA CNRS 8046, F-66860

Perpignan Cedex. Email: nniquil@univ-lr.fr

The structure and functioning of the planktonic food web of

the lagoon of Takapoto Atoll (French Polynesia) is described

in order to assess the impact of farmed pearl oysters. Field data

provided a quantification of the plankton carbon stocks and of

some of the flows: net particulate primary production, DOC

exudation, bacterial production, grazing by protozoa on

different compartments, sinking rate of particles. The grazing

of farmed pearl oysters on the different size classes of plankton

was also quantified. All these data were combined in a carbon

food-web model. The missing flows were estimated by inverse

analysis. This combination of field and numerical approaches

highlighted several characteristics of the functioning of the

plankton community in the lagoon. As expected, primary

production which is the single entry of carbon in the food-web,

is mainly achieved by picophytoplankton. The overall flows

were dominated by a high production of non-living matter,

especially as dissolved organic carbon, and the trophic flows

were dominated by protozoa. The plankton consumption of

farmed bivalves was very low compared to the plankton flows

and the effects of bivalves on the planktonic food-web can be

considered as insignificant, at the scale of the whole lagoon.

PEARL-OYSTER GROWTH RATE IN

OLIGOTROPHIC WATERS. PRELIMINARY

RESULTS.

Pagès J.* & V. Prasil . *Centre I.R.D. de Tahiti. B.P. 529.

Papeete (French Pölynesia). Email: pages@ird.pf

Pearl oysters ( Pinctada margaritifera ) are being farmed in

increasing numbers in several lagoons of French Polynesia.

The location of a farm in a given lagoon could determine

growth performances through water renewal rate and trophic

level. To explore this, we installed a number of oysters in 32

sites among 13 lagoons. On two successive years, we

monitored gross shell weight (P) and shell height (H) during

12-15 months. In parallel, we monitored dissolved organic

matter (as assessed by U.-V. light absorption, A254) and

planktonic chlorophyll (Btot). We find that A254 (site average; n

= 32) is negatively correlated with growth rate, either in shell

weight (YP ; r_ = 0.42) or in shell height (YH ; r_ = 0.54). The

scarcer Btot data (n = 17) exhibit the same negative trend

against YP (r_ = 0.51) and YH (r_ = 0.54). This counter-intuitive

result can be interpreted on the basis of previous data gathered

in comparable atoll lagoons. We had found that oligotrophic,

well flushed environments showed a higher proportion of i)

particulate organic phosphorus in "large" (10 - 60 µm),

chlorophyll-less particles, ii) meso-zooplankton (>35 µm), and

iii) heterotrophic flagellates. It would then appear that confined

waters offer a qualitatively poorer diet despite high total

particulate (phytoplanktonic) content. Further data are still

being gathered. If the present results are confirmed, they mean

that oyster growth, at least for pearl production, is not limited

by carrying capacity as determined by bulk parameters. The

qualitative (i.e. taxonomic) set-up of the whole trophic web

should be considered..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A2: Planktonic Food Webs

15

ADVECTION AND CONSUMPTION OF

ZOOPLANKTON IN A RED SEA CORAL REEF.

Richter, Claudio *, Mohammad I. Badran, Alexander E.

Voigt and Riyad Manasreh. *Center for Tropical Marine

Ecology, Fahrenheitstrasse 1, D-28359 Bremen, Germany.

Email: crichter@uni-bremen.de

A six-week investigation was carried out to assess the lateral

influx and consumption of zooplankton into a fringing coral

reef in the Jordanian sector of the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea). A

current meter deployed near the coral reef at 10 m depth over

70 m bottom, revealed a net shoreward transport of water, with

a stronger onshore component during the cold than during the

warm hours of the day (1.16±0.08 versus 0.54±0.08cm s -1 ,

respectively; mean±SE). Shoreward advection was driven

mainly by the cross-shore component of the wind, and by the

added effect of nearshore cooling during the night.

Zooplankton collected every second day near the reef showed

high densities (1389±171 ind m -3 ) and biomass (266±37 mg

wet mass m -3 ) during periods of onshore flow. Offshore

flowing water, by contrast, was depleted by 34% in terms of

zooplankton abundance and by 61% in terms of biomass,

indicating selective feeding on large-sized zooplankton by the

reef biota. We calculate a net zooplankton uptake by the reef

community of ~1 g C m -2 d -1 , equivalent to 25% of the gross

community metabolism of the fringing reef system.

LINKS BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL

COMPONENTS IN SMALL CAVITIES ON A CORAL

REEF SLOPE.

Scheffers S.R.*, F.C. van Duyl, R.P.M. Bak, J. de Goeij.

*Carmabi Ecological Institute, P.O. Box 2090, Willemstad,

Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. Email: corals@cura.net

Hard substratum surface of crevices and cavities constitutes a

major habitat in coral reefs (up to 90% of the total surface

area), but there are few studies on their biological and physical

characteristics. We studied these cryptic habitats on the reef

slope (12-15 m) in Curaçao. Spatial characteristics of cavities

were explored with a new method, “the cave–explorer”.

Cavities (n=12) had a volume of 100-200 l, were

approximately 1 m wide, 0.5 m high, 1 m deep. They have a

sandy bottom, a highly irregular inner structure with small

openings in the side and back of the cavity. We used a cave-cam

(video) to study the macrofauna distribution in the front,

middle, and back compartments of cavities related to light-intensity

and water movement. Approx. 80% of total surface

area was covered: demosponges 39-53%, bryozoans 10-12%,

ascidians 7%, polychaetes 2-8%, coralline algae 17-27%.

Demosponge cover and species increased towards the back,

while ascidians only shifted in species composition. Highest

bryozoan cover occurred in the front and highest polychaete

cover in the middle compartment. This highly heterogenic

macrofauna composition is also reflected in a-biotic

parameters. Light intensity decreased with a factor 10 from

front to back. Water motion is highest in front of the cavity,

decreasing towards the middle, slightly increasing in the back

again. Video-tracking of suspended particles showed water to

enter the cavity via the “back-openings”, leaving through the

front opening of the cavity. Links between the distribution of

biological components and physical characteristics are studied.

A COMPARISON OF THE ROLE OF

APPENDICULARIANS AND SMALL COPEPODS IN

THE CYCLING OF CARBON THROUGH A COASTAL

SUBTROPICAL FOOD WEB.

Scheinberg R.D. * , Albert Calbet and Michael R. Landry.

University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1000 Pope Road, Honolulu,

HI 96822, USA, Email: rebeccas@soest.hawaii.edu

The role of appendicularians and small copepods in the

cycling of carbon through a coastal food web was investigated

in Kaneohe Bay, an oligotrophic subtropical embayment

located on the northeastern coast of O'ahu. The

appendicularians Oikopleura fusiformis and O. longicauda and

the small copepods Acrocalanus inermis, Parvocalanus

crassirostris, Oithona nana and O. simplex are associated with

patch reefs in Kaneohe Bay and potentially serve as a direct

link between the dominant bacteria-sized primary producers

and higher trophic levels in these waters. To evaluate the role

of these organisms in the cycling of carbon, grazing rates were

measured in situ using flow cytometric and epifluorescence

microscopic analysis of cell decline during feeding. Weekly

net tows and water collection were performed in the bay to

distinguish the temporal and spatial variability of the plankton

community. Results indicated that the mean transfer of carbon

through both food webs was relatively inefficient (3-13%).

However, the inefficiency of the appendicularian-mediated

food web was due in large part to the loss of carbon to the

environment in the form of particulates (82%). Therefore, the

most significant impact of appendicularians or copepods in this

system appears to be the contribution of appendicularians to

particulate carbon flux rather than the ability to efficiently

transfer carbon through the food web.

210 Po AND 210 Po BALANCE ASSOCIATED WITH

PARTICULATE MATTER BEHAVIOR IN CORAL

REEFS.

Tateda Y.* K. Kurosawa, Y. Suzuki, K. Iwao, M. Ouya. K.

Shimoike, H. Taniguchi, and K. Yamada. *Abiko

Laboratory CRIEPI, 1646 Abiko Chiba 270-1194 Japan.

Email: tateda@criepi.denken.or.jp

210 Po concentrations in oligotrophic water are controlled by

zooplankton density, which has high 210 Po affinity and removal

from surface water by downward transport of 210 Po rich fecal

pellet originated to zooplankton defecation. Contrary, the 210 Po

is released from organic matter under decomposition process

of biogenic debris in mid water. Therefore the 210 Po

concentration in water column can be proxy of organic matter

removal from surface water and degradation in deeper layer of

ocean. In coral reefs, 210 Po is expected to be removed from

water column by suspended organic matter consumption and

released from degradation of organic matter by reef

heterotrophic community. Thus imbalance between residence

times of 210 Po in reef water and surrounding coastal waters are

expected to be good information of organic particle inflow to

reef from open water and consumption by reef habitat. We

analyzed the 210 Po and POC/N concentrations in coral reef

waters at Bora Bay in Miyako Island and Akajima in Kerama

Islands. By box model calculation we estimate the 210 Po

residence times in the water column in and around the coral

reef, and calculate the balance of 210 Po to evaluate the POC

and PON behavior in coral reefs. The result suggested that

210 Po in water is positively correlated with particle matter in

reef water, however it also increased during degradation phase

of organic matter in reef..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A2: Planktonic Food Webs

16

ROLE OF BACTERIOPLANKTON IN REEF

ENVIRONMENTS.

Torréton, Jean-Pascal. IRD-Université Montpellier II,

UMR-CNRS 5556, Case 093, Montpellier Cedex 05,

France. Email: torreton@mpl.ird.fr

Detrital fluxes are known to be important in reef ecosystems

and the heterotrophic bacterial production is a key process

integrating the various pathways of detritus decomposition.

This literature based review investigates the importance of

bacterioplankton biomass, production and carbon demand, the

coupling between possible sources and bacterial growth, and

the fate of bacterial production. Bacterioplankton represents

the dominant C, N and P biomass in reef waters as in other

oligotrophic marine waters. Hence bacterioplankton represents

an important standing stock capable to reduce the nutrient

limitation of benthic organisms in these nutrient-poor

environments. This trophic potential is supported by in situ

studies. Indeed, over the reefs, bacterioplankton turnover rates,

and exoenzymatic activities are higher than in lagoon and

oceanic waters. Bacterioplankton production can reach values

in the range of planktonic primary production. These

characteristics suggest that bacterioplankton growth is fuelled

by organic matter released by benthic communities. On the

other hand, bacterioplankton abundance is lower over the reefs

than in surrounding waters. This latter phenomenon, the

elevated bacterioplankton turnover rates, and the short resident

time of waters show that bacterioplankton is very actively

consumed by benthic organisms. This trophic coupling has

been actually repeatedly assessed in laboratory experiments.

Establishing more quantitatively the trophic coupling between

bacterioplankton and other – either planktonic or benthic –

communities, using the study of temporal and spatial variations

of bacterioplankton parameters, in conjunction with

hydrodynamics, will require the use of new tools with high

acquisition rates in order to reach an acceptable resolution.

TROPHIC SUBSIDIES IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE:

ZOOPLANKTON COMMUNITY PATTERNS AND

FOOD WEB STRUCTURE OF DEEP REEF FISHES IN

THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO.

Weaver D.C.* U.S. Geological Survey, Biological

Resources Division, Gainesville, FL, USA. Email:

doug_weaver@usgs.gov

The food web structure of deep (50-110m) reef fishes in the

northeastern Gulf of Mexico was examined. Fish communities

on high-profile topographic features are numerically

dominated by two species of streamer basses (Serranidae:

Anthiinae): the roughtongue bass, Pronotogrammus

martinicensis, and the red barbier, Hemanthias vivanus.

Stomach content analysis revealed that calanoid copepods,

pteropods, pelagic tunicates, and invertebrate larvae dominate

the diets of both species, and that these small planktivores

serve as primary prey for many larger reef predators. To

compare diets of reef fishes with prey availability and

encounter rates, stationary plankton tows (0.5m, 335_ nets)

were made in the water column at surface (2m), midwater

(35m) and near-reef (60-70m) depths. Preliminary results

indicate high flow rates (3-24cm/sec) and high prey

availability (0.2 to 3.0 zooplankters/m 3 ) in the vicinity of deep

reef features. Estimates of the relative abundance indicate that

99% by number and 90% of the biomass of resident reef fishes

are small, planktivorous taxa, and 65-90% of their diets are

comprised of calanoid copepods, forming the main link to

water column productivity and the primary source of prey for

the reef fish community..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A3: Molecular Phylogeny

Session A3: Molecular Phylogeny and Population Genetics in Coral Reefs

17

GENETIC MARKERS AS ESSENTIAL TOOLS IN THE

REGIONAL MANAGEMENT OF CORAL REEFS: AN

INITIATIVE IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.

Ablan, M.C.A.*, McManus, J.W., Tsao, K.S., Chen,

C.A.,Bell, J.D., Cabanban, A.S.,Tuan, V.S., and Arthana,

I.W. *ICLARM, No.10 LL6 Equatorial Hotel Office Block

1 Jalan Bukit Jambul Penang, Malaysia 11900. Email:

m.ablan@cgiar.org

Coastal water systems depend on a fluid medium to transport

recruits for replenishment of populations. In coral reefs,

currents may carry propagules of many species over large

distances. The resulting connectivity among reef systems leads

to situations where different groups harvest the same stock.

Thus, management regimes in one area may be ineffective if

there are no restrictions on harvests, or safeguarding of

habitats, elsewhere. We report the use of genetic markers to

evaluate connectivity among populations from selected coral

reefs in Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam

and Solomon Islands. This initiative, also known as Population

Interdependencies in the South China Sea (PISCES), aims to

determine the extent of unit stocks in the South China Sea

region, to indicate the need for joint management of reef

fisheries. The project uses a model based on 15-24

polymorphic loci in 13-15 isozyme markers of four coral reef

species. Data were interpreted with information from current

patterns, life-history characteristics and some macroecological

correlates. Concordant results were obtained between this

study and another on VNTR in the mtDNA and isozymes of

the same D. trimaculatus individuals. The project is the result

of collaboration between ICLARM and several national

research institutions and is expected to facilitate the

formulation of recommendations for the regional management

of coral reef fisheries.

LEARNING FROM THE PAST: PERSISTANCE OF

HISTORICAL GENETIC BOUNDARIES INDICATE

LIMITS OF CONTEMPORARY LARVAL DISPERSAL.

Barber, P.H.* and Palumbi, Stephen R. *Dept.

Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University,

Cambridge MA 02138, Email: pbarber@oeb.harvard.edu

Many coral reef organisms have pelagic larval phases that

are believed to facilitate dispersal. It is commonly assumed

that duration of larval period is an important predictor of

dispersal potential and that realized dispersal can be estimated

through combining larval period duration with ocean current

data. To examine the relationship between larval period, ocean

currents, and realized dispersal, we examined patterns of

population genetic structure for three species of mantis shrimp

with 4-6 week larval periods from populations throughout

Indonesia. Although strong oceanographic currents predict

extensive dispersal, striking patterns of regional genetic

differentiation were observed in all taxa. Phylogeographic

patterns among taxa were largely concordant and mirrored

ocean basins that were more isolated during periods of lowered

sea levels. Although the observed patterns likely have

Pleistocene origins, the failure of dispersal to disrupt these

historical associations during 10,000 years of modern

oceanographic conditions forces us to conclude that

contemporary dispersal is much more limited that predicted.

The recovery of concordant regional patterns of genetic

structure suggests that our understanding of larval dispersal

behaviors and/or ocean currents may be over simplistic and

highlights the need for fine scale population genetic studies in

marine systems.

THE GENETIC STRUCTURE OF THREE WIDELY

SEPARATED POPULATIONS OF Chlorurus sordidus.

Bay L.*, Christine Dudgeon and Prof. J Howard Choat,

*School Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook

University Townsville Qld. 4811, Australia. Email:

line.bay@jcu.edu.au

The effective management of coral reef fisheries depends on

the identification of local populations and levels of

connectivity amongst these. Recent advances in molecular

techniques have provided reef fish biologists with the tools to

examine the genetic structure of geographically separated

populations and levels of gene flow amongst these. The

majority of reef fishes have a bipartite life history where larvae

spend some time in the pelagic environment before returning

to the reef environment. During this phase larvae may disperse

away or return to the natal reef. Recent studies have failed to

find conclusive evidence of a relationship between genetic

subdivision of geographically separated populations and length

of larval life. It is possible that not only the duration of the

larval phase but also behavioural capability of larvae may

affect the dispersal ability and hence the level of genetic

subdivision amongst geographically separated adult

populations. We examine the genetic structure of the common

reef fish Chlorurus sordidus. C. sordidus larvae spend ~30

days in the pelagic zone but are undeveloped compared to

larvae of other reef fish species. We compare mitochondrial

DNA sequence data amongst three widely separated

geographic populations. Samples from the northern Great

Barrier Reef are compared with samples taken ~ 3000 km to

the west (Abrolhos Islands, WA) and those sampled ~1000 km

to the north (Kavieng, PNG). Results are interpreted with

respect to larval attributes and the geological history of the

region.

CORALLIMORPHARIA (CNIDARIA, ANTHOZOA):

AN ORDER, A CORAL, OR A SEA ANEMONE?

Cappola V.A. and D.G. Fautin*. *University of Kansas,

Division of Biological Sciences, Haworth Hall, Lawrence,

KS 66047. Email: fautin@ukans.edu

The anthozoan order Corallimorpharia is currently

considered equivalent in rank to the Scleractinia (hard corals)

and Actiniaria (sea anemones). Does Corallimorpharia merit

ordinal status and, if not, does it belong in the scleractinians or

actiniarians? This study is the first cladistic analysis of these

anthozoan orders based on both morphology and molecules.

Morphological and anatomical evidence (nematocysts,

structure of mesenterial filaments, structure of the mesoglea,

absence of siphonoglyphs, sphincter muscle feeble or absent,

acrospheres) support the Corallimorpharia and Scleractinia

being closely related, but the form of this relationship is

unresolved. The corallimorpharians have variously been

hypothesized to be corals without skeletons, representatives of

the ancestral anemones from which skeleton-producing polyps

diverged, the sister group to Scleractinia, and a suborder of

Scleractinia. Published molecular data of 16S mitochondrial

DNA and 18S ribosomal DNA support the corallimorpharians

within the scleractinian clade, but data from 28S ribosomal

DNA support corallimorpharians being more closely related to

actiniarians. Monophyly of the corallimopharians has not been

established by these molecular studies. We use morphological

and molecular evidence both independently and combined to

present a complete picture of the phylogenetic status of

Corallimorpharia..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A3: Molecular Phylogeny

18

EVIDENCES FOR HIGHER RATE OF CYTOCHROME

B EVOLUTION IN THE SCLERACTINIAN CORAL

GENUS ACROPORA IN THE FAMILY ACROPORIDAE.

Chen C.A. * and Carden C. Wallace. *Institute of Zoology,

Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan. Email:

cac@gate.sinica.edu.tw

The fundamental discipline of molecular evolution is to

estimate the divergence rates of molecules (DNA sequences or

proteins), and apply the rate to infer absolute divergence times

between species. The latter relies on well-preserved fossil

records and evolutionary rate of the molecules which are

approximately constant over time in all evolutionary lineages

(i. e., molecular clock hypothesis). Recent advances in

characterizing the mitochondrial genome of Acropora and

phylogenetic relationships in the family provide an opportunity

to examine the molecular evolution of mitochondrial genome

in scleractinian corals. In this study, we apply the likelihood

ratio test (LRT) and relative rate test (RRT) to examine the

patterns of rate heterogeneity in the family Acroporidae at two

mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b (cyt b) and ATPase 6.

Based on both LRT and RRT, we find significant evidence of

rate heterogeneity among evolutionary lineages of the family

Acroporidae at cyt b gene, but not at ATPase 6. The effects of

rate heterogeneity at Acropora cyt b gene in inferring the

divergence time and phylogenetic relationships of the family

Acroporidae are discussed.

DEMOGRAPHIC AND LIFE-HISTORY DIFFERENCES

IN REEF FISHES IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

LACK A GENETIC BASIS.

Dudgeon C.*, Nicholas Gust and David Blair. *James

Cook University, Dept. of Zoology, Townsville, QLD,

Australia, 4811. Email: Christine.Dudgeon@jcu.edu.au

Two species of parrot fish, Chlorurus sordidus and Scarus

frenatus are known to exhibit demographic and life history

differences across the continental shelf of the northern Great

Barrier Reef (GBR). Mitochondrial control region sequences

were analysed to test whether there was a genetic basis to the

observed ecological differences. Analysis of molecular

variance (AMOVA) revealed high levels of gene exchange for

both species at a local scale between reefs on mid and outer

continental shelf positions (20 km apart) and at a broader scale

along the length of the GBR province (>1000 km apart),

indicating that local differences in life history characteristics

on the northern GBR do not have a genetic basis. Rather it

appears more likely that phenotypically plastic responses to

prevailing social and environmental conditions explain

differences in the life history characteristics of both taxa.

However, analysis of genetic variability and historical

demography revealed striking differences between the two

species suggesting S. frenatus has undergone a population

expansion between 20 000 to 80 000 years ago whilst C.

sordidus has maintained equilibrium over this time. These

patterns could also reflect differences in the metapopulation

sizes or generation times between taxa. This study illustrates

contrasting ecological and genetic information which may

have implications for fisheries management.

REEF CONNECTIVITY IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

AND SULU SEA, PHILIPPINES, INFERRED FROM

ALLOZYME ANALYSIS OF TWO REEF FISH

SPECIES.

Endriga M.A.* Mamauag S.S, Menez M.A.J., Alino P.M. .

*Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines,

Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines. Email:

marla@upmsi.ph

Allelic variation in 4 populations of Pterocaesio tile and 12

populations of Chromis margaritifer at 12 to 14 polymorphic

loci was analyzed to compare levels of genetic structuring and

determine the extent of gene flow in the South China Sea

(SCS) and Sulu Sea. Fish were collected from the Kalayaan

Island Group (KIG) and Western Luzon (WL) coast in the SCS

and reefs in the Sulu Sea. Average heterozygosity was highest

in P. tile (H = 0.421) compared with 1998 (H = 0.391) and

1999 (H = 0.362) populations of chromis. It was highest in

Sulu Sea populations of both species, lowest at the NE

Investigator Shoal of the KIG among chromis, and lowest in

WL among caesionids. Overall Fst was significant in both

species (Fst = 0.1473 for P. tile; 0.1732 for C. margaritifer),

suggesting that these are highly structured populations.

Effective number of migrants per generation (Nem) are 1.4 for

P. tile and 1.2 for chromis. Genetic affinities were closest

between KIG and Sulu Sea populations of P. tile (D = 0.112)

which differed significantly from the WL population (D =

0.158). Cluster analysis on chromis populations yielded two

major clusters: the KIG and WL-Sulu Sea clades. Pair-wise

comparisons showed that each chromis population was

significantly different from the rest (D = 0.069-0.127) included

in the study. In general, proximate sites had higher affinities

with one another, with some exceptions.

GENETIC STRUCTURE OF LINCKIA LAEVIGATA

AND TRIDACNA CROCEA POPULATIONS IN THE

PALAWAN SHELF AND SHOAL REEFS.

Juinio-Meñez, Marie Antonette*, Richard Magsino,

Eizadora T. Yu. *Marine Science Institute, College of

Science University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon

City 1101 Philippines. Email:

meneza@msi01.cs.upd.edu.ph

Allozyme variation of 10 populations of Linckia laevigata at

8 polymorphic loci, and 12 populations of Tridacna crocea at

6 polymorphic loci were analyzed to compare genetic

variability and determine genetic affinities among shoal and

shelf reefs of Palawan, Philippines. Heterozygosity was

highest in populations from the shelf of Palawan and lowest in

the shoal reefs of KIG in the South China Sea for both species.

There were highly significant variations between populations

in 3 loci of L. laevigata and 5 loci of T. crocea. Overall Fst for

both species (L. laevigata, 0.049 and T. crocea, 0.1403) were

significant indicating genetic structuring among shelf and

shoal reef populations in Palawan. The estimated average

number of effective migrants per generation (Nem) between the

reef populations was 1.5 individuals for T. crocea and 5

migrants for L. laevigata. Nei’s unbiased distance for L.

laevigata was smaller than that for T. crocea. Cluster

analysis based on genetic distance generally showed groupings

of reefs that were geographically close to each other with a few

exceptions. Highly significant pairwise comparisons (Fst) of

the different reef groups indicate genetic substructuring of

these reef invertebrates between and within the four

geographic areas in Palawan..9ICRS STATE OF KNOWLEDGE A3: Molecular Phylogeny

19

PCR AMPLIFICATION OF 16S MITOCHONDRIAL

GENE OF ZOANTHUS SOCIATUS (ZOANTHIDEA,

ANTHOZOA) USING HETEROLOGOUS PRIMERS

Longo, L. L. * ; M. C. Arias & E. Schlenz *Departamento

de Zoologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade de São

Paulo São Paulo, SP, Brazil Caixa Postal 11461 CEP:

05422-970 Email – lllongo@ib.usp.br

The Zoanthidea order (class Anthozoa) is comprised mainly

of colonial cnidarians that do not secrete a skeleton, but some

of them have an assimilation mechanism of sediments within

their tissues. Most of the species have zooxanthellae

endosymbionts. The morphological identification of

Zoanthidea species has been very difficult due to the plasticity

of polipo and colony morphology. Although this group of

Cnidaria is very abundant, studies involving its biology and

taxonomy are rare. Histological sectioning has been used in an

attempt to determine characters that can be useful for

taxonomic purpose. Allozime analysis has been the only

molecular tool applied so far to Zoanthidea taxonomy.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis has been used

successfully in taxonomic and evolutionary studies of several

organisms. The main goal of our study is to test primers for

mtDNA regions derived from different organisms in Zoanthus

sociatus. As this species presents zooxanthellae

endosymbionts, it is crucial to have DNA extractions free of

this contaminant and also primers showing high specificity to

Cnidarians. Primers for the 16S mtDNA gene, described for

Hydra vulgaris, were inittially tested. The PCR product

obtained was a unique fragment of 1022 pb. This fragment was

cloned and sequenced.

GENETIC RELATIONSHIP OF COLOR ECOMORPHS

OF THE REEF STARFISH LINCKIA LAEVIGATA

(LINNEAUS) IN THE KALAYAAN ISLANDS GROUP

(KIG), WEST PALAWAN, PHILIPPINES.

Magsino, Richard M. *, Rachel G. Ravago, Marie

Antonette J. Meñez. *Marine Science Institute University

of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines.

Email: rickym@msi01.cs.upd.edu.ph

The coral reef starfish Linckia laevigata is an organism with

a high potential for dispersal due to its 28d planktonic larvae.

In the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), Philippines, color morphs

of blue, orange and combinations of both colors exist

sympatrically. Genetic variation at 8 polymorphic loci for 3

reef populations in the KIG based on allozyme markers was

examined. Data for 163 individuals (85 blue and 78 orange)

showed highly significant genetic grouping for all populations

(Fst=0.086) of L. laevigata. Pairwise comparisons between

blue and orange ecomorphs of the species (Fst=0.079) revealed

lower but significant genetic variation. In two reefs where both

blue and orange L. laevigata occurred, significant Fst suggests

genetic differentiation of color ecomorphs within sites. Cluster

analysis revealed two genetically different groups of blue and

orange populations. Comparison of DNA sequences of the COI

segment of the mitochondrial DNA of the different color

morphs show considerable variation among individuals.

Results obtained were consistent with a previous allozyme

study on the population genetics of L. laevigata color morphs

in Pacific and Indian Ocean populations. Phenotypic and

genetic structuring of color variants of L. laevigata within the

KIG may reflect effects of the very variable and complex

hydrographic regimes and habitats in the shoal reefs that

affects recruitment dynamics of Linckia populations.

POPULATION GENETICS OF THE SEA URCHIN

TRIPNEUSTES GRATILLA ALONG THE WESTERN

COAST OF LUZON ISLAND, THE PHILIPPINES.

Malay, Maria Celia D. *, Marie Antonette Juinio-Meñez,

and Cesar Villanoy. Marine Science Institute, University

of the Philip