Coastal Benthic Optical Properties(CoBOP) of Coral Reef Environments: Effects of Changes in the Spectral Quality and Quantity of the Underwater Light Field on Productivity and Fluorescence Yields of Hermatypic Corals.

摘要

LONG-TERM GOAL. My principal goal is to understand the mechanistic basis for changes in the flourescent signatures, both host and algal symbiont, of corals. Changes in the spectral quantity and quality of visible and ultraviolet radiation will have effects of the quantum yield of photosynthesis and affect the fluorescent signatures of the algal symbionts as will changes in the temperature of the surrounding seawater. Since the reef environment is very dynamic, the challenge is to understand what environmental factors are responsible for the greatest variability in these fluorescent optical signatures at small to large scales and understand sufficiently to model them over space and time. OBJECTIVES. The Coastal Benthic Optical Properties (CoBOP) project is directed at understanding the optical properties of coastal benthic communities in general, and in particular, coral reefs. Coral reef communities are coastal areas of high water transparency which make them ideal systems to study optical signatures originating from the benthos. The scientific objectives of my project are: to understand the relationship between primary productivity and chlorophyll fluorescence in hermatypic corals and identify the temporal and spatial scales of variability in this optical signature.