Abstract

Organic carbon flux and community production rates were estimated on Shiraho coral reef (Ishigaki Island, Japan) from 19 to 26 September 1998. The daily net community production (P n ) and respiration rate (R) during the study period were 3 to 79 and 596 mmolC m -2 d -1 , respectively. This resulted in a daily gross community production (P g ) of 599 to 675 mmol C m -2 d -1 , The variation of P n associated with the uncertainty of the curve fitting parameters of light response curves for photosynthesis was estimated using an error propagation formula. The averaged P n ± SE was 36 ± 12 mmol C m -2 d -1 (n = 23), indicating that the P n was significantly positive (t-test, p < 0.05). The apparent fluxes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) on the reef were estimated as 30 to 36 and 5 to 7 mmol C m -2 d -1 , respectively; The sum of which was comparable with the P n during the study period. The sediment trap study conducted at 1 km off the reef and 40 m depth showed that the vertical flux of POC was 1.0 mmol C m -2 d -1 . The results indicated that 6 to 7 % of the P g was exported to offshore and about 14 to 20% of the POC exported from the reef flat and 0.2 % of the Pg reached 1 km off and 40 m depth.

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