WAMSI 2 - Dredging Node - Project 4.8 - Mucous sheet production in Porites spp. and links to sediment, Western Australia

Data is in the form of a report, which is a a secured (printable, non-editable), searchable, Portable Document Format (PDF) showing the results of the analysesColonies of massive Porites spp. corals (Porites lutea and P. lobata) occasionally produce mucous sheets that may envelop the entire colony, and which trap settling particulate material such as sediment. The sheets eventually peel off the surface, leaving relatively clean and sediment-free tissue underneath. The function and biological role of these mucous sheets have been previously explored, yet studies involving exposure to altered environmental conditions (temperature, salinity and especially sediment) have produced equivocal results. In this study, multiple lines of convincing evidence are presented from both field observations during a large-scale dredging project, and from controlled laboratory-based studies, to suggest a close association between mucous sheet production and sediments.

本数据集以报告形式呈现，为受保护的（可打印、不可编辑）可检索便携式文档格式（Portable Document Format，PDF），内含各项分析结果。巨形多孔螅属（Porites spp.）珊瑚群体（包括扁形多孔螅Porites lutea与叶状多孔螅P. lobata）偶尔会分泌黏液片，此类黏液片可包裹整个珊瑚群体，并捕获沉降的颗粒物（如沉积物）。这类黏液片最终会从珊瑚表面脱落，使下方的珊瑚组织保持相对洁净、无沉积物附着。此前已有研究探讨了此类黏液片的功能与生物学作用，但针对环境条件改变（温度、盐度，尤其是沉积物暴露）的相关研究所得结果尚不明确。本研究结合大型疏浚工程期间的野外实地观测数据与受控实验室实验结果，提供了多维度的可靠证据，表明珊瑚黏液片的产生与沉积物之间存在密切关联。