Bioerosion of Porites corals in the central Great Barrier Reef

Sponge bioerosion was studied on three cross shelf transect reefs. 29 samples were used for the study, sourced from Myrmidon Reef, Rib Reef and Pandora Reef. Cross sections of Porites spp. were examined for bioerosion traces which were categorised by the appearance of the excavation patters by organisms (sponge, molluscs, worms and others). Occurrences of sponge bioerosion were further categorised according to architecture of the excavation pattern (porous, cavernous). An analysis of the surface area of samples was conducted by an image analysis of each sample for live and dead surface. Subsequent collection of data for percentage of area removed and dead area on the corals, enabled a comparison between reefs and the sum of bioerosion with contributing factors.

本研究以3处跨陆架断面礁（cross shelf transect reefs）为研究对象，开展海绵生物侵蚀（sponge bioerosion）相关调查。研究共采集29份样本，样本来源为默米登礁（Myrmidon Reef）、里夫礁（Rib Reef）与潘多拉礁（Pandora Reef）。本研究对杯形珊瑚属（Porites spp.）的断面样本开展生物侵蚀痕迹（bioerosion traces）检测，并依据各类生物（海绵、软体动物、蠕虫及其他类群）的挖掘模式外观对侵蚀痕迹进行分类。其中，海绵生物侵蚀的发生类型进一步依据挖掘模式的结构特征，划分为多孔型（porous）与洞穴型（cavernous）两类。通过对每份样本的活组织与死组织表面开展图像分析，完成样本表面积的测算工作。后续收集珊瑚的被侵蚀移除面积占比与死组织面积数据，可实现不同礁体间的对比，并分析生物侵蚀总量及其影响因子之间的关联。