RPG: Seasonal Production, Accumulation and Alteration Rates of Calcareous Green Algae In Caribbean Reefs and Leeward Banks

这项研究计划补助金将集中于开发测量巴拿马碳酸盐岩礁中钙藻生长速度的技术。据推测，这些藻类可能对珊瑚礁环境中固定在方解石中的碳总量做出了相当大的贡献。作者将监测单个藻类的生长速度，并计算产生的方解石颗粒的数量和它们的最终命运--它们是否保存在沉积物中，从而在沉积物中埋藏碳，或者发生变化，从而将碳释放回水中。长期目标是确定大气中的二氧化碳水平是否可能受到海平面变化导致的藻类产量变化的影响。

This Research Planning Grant will concentrate on developing techniques for measuring the growth rate of calcareous algae in carbonate reefs of Panama. It has been hypothesized that these algae may contribute a substantial amount to the total amount of carbon fixed into calcite in reef settings. The author will monitor the growth rate of individual algae and calculate the number of calcite particles produced and their ultimate fate--whether they are preserved in the sediment, thus burying carbon in the sediment or altered, thus releasing carbon back into the water. The long- range goal is to determine whether atmospheric levels of CO2 might be affected by changes in algal production resulting from sealevel variations.