Research Training ProgramNational Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian InstitutionPROJECT SUMMARY
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| Rudyard Sadleir University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, Illinois John M. Pandolfi, Ph.D. "It was an invaluable academic and research experience." |
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Taphonomic Alteration of Reef Corals from Madang Lagoon, Papua New Guinea
ABSTRACT
Taphonomy is the study of the processes of preservation and how these processes affect information in the fossil record (Behrensmeyer and Kidwell, 1985). This project is an experiment involving the taphonomy of corals from Madang Lagoon, Papua New Guinea. The first objective of the study is to compare taphonomic degradation among three different coral growth forms that were exposed for one year in Madang Lagoon. The second objective of the experiment is to compare degrees of coral degradation in different reef settings and among corals rapidly buried versus corals left exposed on the sea floor. Massive, branching, and free living coral growth forms were distributed over patch reef, fringing reef, and open marine environments. Within each environmental setting four corals of each growth form were tethered to the surface of the sea floor and four corals from each growth form were buried 25cm below the surface. After two months the corals were collected to gather taphonomic data and were then replaced back into their specific study environment and depositional condition. At the end of one year the experiment concluded and the corals were removed from the reefs. Data was collected at initial, two month, and one year time intervals recording the coral's physical condition (coral preservation state, dissolution, abrasion, edge-ware, and fragmentation), biotic interactions (encrusters, grazers, and etchers), and the length, width, height, and dry weight of each specimen. This data was then analyzed statistically using a non-parametric analysis of variance test for each individual variable. The analysis of variance determined statistically significant taphonomic alteration between, and among, coral growth forms, time since death, reef environment, and exposure in taphonomically active areas. Understanding the reef's response to environmental change over time provides insight into the better management of these economically and environmentally important ecosystems. Comparative studies will reveal the degree to which typical taphonomic processes have altered the original character of the living fauna, and the differences in preservation, which exist over geographic distribution, and the amount of time in the taphonomically active zone.
Research supported by NSF Biology award #DBI-9531331.