Date Thesis Awarded

5-2024

Access Type

Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only

Degree Name

Bachelors of Science (BS)

Department

Biology

Advisor

Randolph Chambers

Committee Members

Jonathan Allen

Eric Hochberg

Abstract

Primary production drives all important ecological processes on coral reefs, and, in turn, underpins several ecosystem services. Organic matter production by benthic autotrophs serves as the basis for the microbial, detrital, and traditional food webs. Additionally, primary production provides the energy needed to drive calcification, which in turn builds and maintains the physical structure of the reef. Certain environmental parameters, particularly irradiance, benthic cover, and water flow velocity affect primary productivity. Irradiance is the central driver of productivity as it provides the energy input. Hydrodynamic theory and organismal scale studies also support the hypothesis of a positive flow-productivity relationship. This relationship, however, has not previously been examined at the community scale under natural flow conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between productivity, irradiance, and water flow of a Bermuda reef community. Using the gradient flux approach, gross primary production was quantified over the course of 25 days in June and July of 2023. Alongside the gradient flux a Biospherical light sensor and CTD were deployed. The benthic cover of the reef community, which remained constant throughout the deployments, was quantified using photogrammetry. Fluctuations in productivity normalized by light were largely explained by flow. Both horizontal flow speed and wave amplitude were positively related to light-normalized productivity on the diurnal scale. These results support the hypothesis that a positive flow-productivity relationship exists at the community scale on reefs.

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