dc.creatorHernández, R.
dc.creatorSherman, C.
dc.creatorWeil, E.
dc.creatorYoshioka, P.
dc.date2014-05-19T19:20:08Z
dc.date2014-05-19T19:20:08Z
dc.date2009
dc.date.accessioned2017-03-17T16:54:14Z
dc.date.available2017-03-17T16:54:14Z
dc.identifier0008-6452
dc.identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/10586 /406
dc.identifier.urihttp://repositorioslatinoamericanos.uchile.cl/handle/2250/647531
dc.descriptionEffects of terrigenous sedimentation are considered a serious threat to Puerto Rico’s coral reefs. This study assesses: 1) the composition of sediments accumulating at reef sites on the southwestern shelf of Puerto Rico; 2) the spatial extent to which terrigenous materials are reaching these reefs; and 3) the spatial and temporal variability of sediment composition, grain size and trap collection rates. Sediment traps were deployed at 9 sites from inner shelf to shelf edge. Analyses of total sediment weight (April 2006 - April 2007) show a similar temporal pattern at all sites with June and August having the highest accumulation rates. In general, there is a decrease in trap accumulation rate with depth. Carbon composition analyses indicate that samples consist primarily of calcium carbonate with lesser amounts of terrigenous and organic material, and a slightly higher percentage of terrigenous material in the <63 μm fraction. At a given site, the percentage of terrigenous material is fairly constant regardless of trap collection rate, suggesting that observed changes in accumulation rates are due to resuspension of existing material rather than an influx of new terrigenous material. These results, illustrate that in some reef systems, resuspension of existing bottom sediments is as important as the influx of new terrigenous material.
dc.descriptionCollege of Arts and Sciences University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez
dc.languageen
dc.publisherCaribbean Journal of Science, Vol. 45, No. 2-3, 138-150, 2009
dc.subjectCoral reef
dc.subjectsediment accumulation
dc.subjectterrigenous sediments
dc.subjectsediment traps
dc.subjectresuspension
dc.subjectPuerto Rico
dc.titleSpatial and temporal patterns in reef sediment accumulation and composition, southwestern insular shelf of Puerto Rico
dc.typeArtículos de revistas


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