Effects of the 1982-83 El Nino Event on Tropical, Eastern Pacific Coral Reefs: Disturbance, Recovery and Retrospective Analyses

1982- 1983年严重的厄尔尼诺南方涛动 一场史无前例的灾难性事件 对东太平洋珊瑚礁的干扰。 在 这一事件的后果，对珊瑚礁的干扰， 它可能会继续并加速。 再加上低珊瑚 珊瑚礁的恢复可能需要很多年。 的 这种区域性干扰的生态影响和原因 一个拉丁美洲和北美的研究小组 哥斯达黎加、巴拿马和厄瓜多尔的同事和学生 （加拉帕戈斯群岛）（史密森学会 1985年至1987年（NSF支持）。 这项建议 侧重于珊瑚礁的恢复，干扰过程本身， 和回顾性分析， 多学科的国际团队。 继发或延迟 将研究的干扰影响是（a）中断 生物屏障允许捕食者（浮游植物）进入 （B）捕食者（珊瑚虫）集中 （c）厄尔尼诺现象后海胆的生物侵蚀 （d）损害的珊瑚礁框架的雀鲷殖民化， 大型珊瑚，以及（e）雀鲷/海胆/珊瑚虫 与大规模珊瑚生存的相互作用。 恢复 过程将主要研究关于 钙化生物（珊瑚和珊瑚礁）的补充 藻类）到以前占据的珊瑚礁表面，包括 斑块大小、定殖体特征（无性或无性） 有性繁殖体）和周围环境的相对丰度 物种 回顾性研究（硬化年代学、氧和 碳稳定同位素分析，镉分析， 荧光带模式）亦会在珊瑚上进行 至少可以追溯到1601年的核心， ENSO扰动的记录。因为艾尔少校很可能 尼诺扰动是重复发生的事件，这些信息应该 为理解过程提供坚实的基础 控制珊瑚礁的发展和分布 热带东太平洋

The severe 1982-83 ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) event caused historically unprecedented and catastrophic disturbances to the Eastern Pacific coral reefs. In the aftermath of this event, disturbances to the reefs have continued and may have accelerated. Coupled with low coral recruitment, reef recovery could well take many years. The ecological effects and cause(s) of this regional disturbance have been investigated by a team of Latin and North American colleagues and students in Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador (Galapagos Islands) from 1983 to 1984 (Smithsonian Institution support) and from 1985 to 1987 (NSF support). This proposal focuses on coral reef recovery, disturbance processes per se, and retrospective analyses to be studied by a multidisciplinary, international team. Secondary or delayed disturbance effects that will be studied are (a) the disruption of biotic barriers allowing predator (Acanthaster planci) entry to coral prey refugia, (b) predator (corallivore) concentration on surviving coral prey, (c) post-El Nino sea urchin bioerosion of damaged reef frames, (d) damselfish colonization of damaged massive corals, and (e) damselfish/sea urchin/corallivore interactions vis-a-vis massive coral survival. Recovery processes will be studied chiefly with respect to the recruitment of calcifying organisms (corals and coralline algae) onto formerly occupied reef surfaces including examiniation of patch size, character of colonists (asexual or sexual propagules), and relative abundances of surrounding species. Retrospective studies (sclerochronology, oxygen and carbon stable isotope analyses, cadmium analysis, and fluorescent banding patterns) will also be performed on coral cores dating back at least to 1601 to provide a long-term record of ENSO disturbances. Since it is likely that major El Nino disturbances are recurring events, such information should provide a firm basis for understanding the processes controlling coral reef development and distribution in the tropical eastern Pacific.