Predicted disappearance of coral‐reef ramparts: a direct result of major ecological disturbances
Predicted disappearance of coral‐reef ramparts: a direct result of major ecological disturbances
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珊瑚礁壁垒的预计消失：重大生态干扰的直接结果
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发表时间：
1999
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通讯作者：
L. Bunkley
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作者：
E. Williams;P. Bartels;L. Bunkley
波多黎各的La Parguera附近的两个珊瑚礁有大的、暴露的珊瑚壁，几乎完全由松散的埃尔克霍恩珊瑚Acropora palmata组成（88%的水平断面，98%的垂直断面）。在这两个珊瑚礁的壁垒中，埃尔克霍恩珊瑚的总体积估计为3 600和12 800立方米。 这两个珊瑚礁上的活埃尔克霍恩珊瑚目前的体积估计为7和14立方米，以前的体积为11 000和34 900立方米。 白色带病被发现在8.5%的活埃尔克霍恩殖民地。Lang的海绵Cliona langae覆盖了总断面面积的10.8%，过度生长死亡和活珊瑚。白色带疾病和珊瑚礁白化已经大大减少了埃尔克霍恩珊瑚的数量，因此，补充板块壁垒的骨骼珊瑚材料严重减少，破坏了形成和维持这些珊瑚礁壁垒的过程。我们预测，下一系列袭击这些著名珊瑚礁堡垒的大风暴将使它们消失。这些失踪将是全球动荡的一个迅速、明显和永久的后果。珊瑚礁壁垒的丧失将改变大西洋珊瑚礁及其周围的环境。印度太平洋珊瑚礁可能也同样失去了壁垒。由于缺乏任何其他无可争议的明确指标，表明珊瑚礁受到长期的重大干扰，因此珊瑚礁壁垒的明显丧失是一个重要的物理标志。
Two coral cays near La Parguera, Puerto Rico, have large, exposed coral ramparts composed almost entirely of loose pieces of elkhorn coral Acropora palmata (88% of horizontal transects, 98% of vertical transects). The total volume of elkhorn coral in the ramparts of the two cays was estimated at 3600 and 12 800 m3. The present volume of living elkhorn coral on these two reefs was estimated at 7 and 14 m3 and previous volumes at 11 000 and 34 900 m3. White‐band disease was found on 8.5% of living elkhorn colonies. Lang’s boring sponge Cliona langae covered 10.8% of the total transect area, overgrowing both dead and living corals. White‐band disease and coral‐reef bleaching have drastically reduced the populations of elkhorn coral, thus, skeletal coral materials to replenish the plate ramparts are severely reduced, disrupting the process of forming and maintaining these coral reef ramparts. We predict that the next series of major storms striking these prominent cay ramparts will remove them. These disappearances will represent a quick, obvious and permanent consequence of global disturbances. Loss of cay ramparts will modify the environments on and around Atlantic coral reefs. Ramparts may be similarly lost from Indo‐Pacific reefs. The lack of any other indisputable definitive indicators of long‐term, major disturbances on coral reefs makes the distinct loss of coral‐reef ramparts an important physical sign.