SGER: Population Studies at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute San Blas Field Station

在巴拿马的圣布拉斯角地区的柳珊瑚Plexaura kuna的人口研究已经确定了死亡率的模式，这表明克隆特定的敏感性环境压力。这种模式是已知的实验室研究和自然界中的一些模式是一致的克隆特定的死亡率，但没有证明这种模式是重要的自然种群。这样的演示是可能的P.库纳种群由于我们广泛的数据库在圣布拉斯种群的克隆结构。为了证明克隆的具体模式，将有必要重新采样和分析以前调查的许多人口。由于史密森热带研究所在圣布拉斯的外地站关闭，必须立即进行这种分析。 还需要立即取样，以确定在我们预测的1998年"珊瑚漂白"开始期间，库纳P.kuna虫黄藻密度减少的性质和影响。将比较4月和6月的虫黄藻密度和繁殖产量数据，并将其与过去10年收集的历史样本进行比较。

Population studies of the gorgonian coral Plexaura kuna in the San Blas Point region of Panama have identified patterns of mortality which suggest clone specific sensitivity to environmental stressors. Such patterns are known from laboratory studies and some patterns in nature are consistent with clone specific mortality, but there has not been a demonstration of such patterns being important among natural populations. Such a demonstration is possible among P. kuna populations due to our extensive database on the clonal structure of populations in the San Blas. In order to demonstrate clone specific patterns it will be necessary to resample and analyze many of the populations that were previously surveyed. Such analyses must be undertaken immediately due to the closure of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute field station in the San Blas. Immediate sampling is also required in order to characterize the nature and effects of reduced zooxanthellae densities among P. kuna during the onset of `coral bleaching` that we predict for 1998. Data on zooxanthellae density and reproductive output will be compared from April and June and will be compared with historical samples collected over the past 10 years.