Increased sediment load destabilize algal turf at two different fringing reefs; Evaluating responses across a stress gradient, Moorea, French Polynesia, 2016

Seven reefs in Moorea French Polynesia were examined for sediment and turf characteristics to establish a baseline for naturally occurring proportions of sediment within the turf matrix. At each of the seven sites turf filament heights and sediment depths within the turf matrix were measured using a galvanized mesh measuring device calibrated by 1mm increments. All surveys were conducted between 2-3m in depth between April-May of 2016. We then conducted a two-factor experiment where sediment depth was manipulated at two sites surveyed with strong differences in turf communities (Maharepa and Gump). Our experiment ran for 30 days, with sediment treatments maintained every four days.本研究对法属波利尼西亚茉莉雅岛的7处珊瑚礁开展沉积物与藻席（turf）特征调查，旨在建立藻席基质内天然沉积物占比的基准值。针对全部7处采样点，均采用经1mm增量校准的镀锌网测量装置，测定藻席丝状体高度及藻席基质内的沉积物深度。所有调查工作均于2016年4至5月期间，在2~3米水深范围内开展。随后，我们选取两处藻席群落特征差异显著的调查点（Maharepa与Gump）设置双因子实验，对其沉积物深度进行人为调控。本实验持续30天，每4天维护一次沉积物调控处理。