Living Foraminifera of Laing Island (Papua New-Guinea): diversity distribution and correlations
Gerrienne, Y.; Bussers, J.-C.; Poulicek, M.; Vandewalle, P.; Jeuniaux, C. (1993). Living Foraminifera of Laing Island (Papua New-Guinea): diversity distribution and correlations. Belg. J. Zool. 123(Suppl. 1): 27-28
In: Belgian Journal of Zoology. Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Dierkunde = Société royale zoologique de Belgique: Gent. ISSN 0777-6276; e-ISSN 2295-0451, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Gerrienne, Y.
- Bussers, J.-C., more
- Poulicek, M., more
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- Vandewalle, P.
- Jeuniaux, C.
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| Abstract |
Mathematical analyses using quantitative data, are rarely used for the study of the ecology of living Foraminifera. Our study is the first to use such methods for living Foraminifera of coral reefs. In this way, diversity and similarities between transects were calculated for fifteen species of Foraminifera living on the calcareous algae Halimeda. Two reefs were prospected: Laing Island reef (144°50’ long.e; 4° 10’ lat. s.) and Boisa Island reef (144°57’ long.e; 4°00’ lat. s.). They are both situated in the Bismarck sea (Papua New-Guinea) but Laing Island is near the coast and, as a consequence, received the organic matter and the dilution carried down by two rivers which mouths are situated about ten kilometres to the north. The diversity measures (Shannon index; Laing Island reef) show that the dilution and turbidity are responsible of the lower diversity observed in the sheltered and exposed areas and the higher diversity observed in the semi-exposed areas. These factors seem, in another to be responsible of the higher diversity observed for the Boisa Island reef. The similarities between transects (Laing island reef), calculated with the Kulczynski coefficient, show a partition between eastern and western coasts. Nevertheless, the eastern transect and the lagoon transect are quite similar a1though they are situated respectively on eastern coast and western coast. This paradoxical similarity seems to be in relation with waves’force and bacterial activity. Finally, it is interesting to note the absence significative similarity between Boisa Island and Laing island. We come the conclusion that dilution, turbidity, waves'forces and bacterial activity are some factors influencing the epiphyte fauna of Foraminifera. The fauna of Laing Island reef, unlike Boisa Island's, seems to be disturbed by the dilution and the organic matter carried down by the two rivers. |
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