Depth analysis of fatty acids in two caribbean reef corals

Total fatty acid compositions of colonies of two hermatypic, reef-building corals collected during the day-time over a depth range of 21 m were determined to assess the effect of depth-related environmental factors upon the lipid content of these organisms. No systematic changes were found, suggesting a steady-state balance between algal and animal lipogenesis in these symbiotic partnerships. Stephanocoenia michelinii , a day and night feeder, contained lipids indicative of external dietary sources such as copepods, whereas Montastrea annularis , a night feeder, did not.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46632/1/227_2004_Article_BF00391131.pd

Ecological persistence interrupted in Caribbean coral reefs [Letter]

The recent mass mortality of Caribbean reef corals dramatically altered reef community structure and begs the question of the past stability and persistence of coral assemblages before human disturbance began. We report within habitat stability in coral community composition in the Pleistocene fossil record of Barbados for at least 95 000 years despite marked variability in global sea level and climate. Results were consistent for surveys of both common and rare taxa. Comparison of Pleistocene and modern community structure shows that Recent human impacts have changed coral community structure in ways not observed in the preceding 220 000 years