July 2000 - Mission Overview July 2000 Mission Mission Summary Aquanaut Profiles Expedition Journals Press Release Mission summary Effects of water flow and prey behavior on coral feeding. This project is specifically designed to quantify, using video and other techniques, the small-scale mechanisms that affect how corals feed and capture prey. Usually, this work is conducted in the laboratory, but Aquarius provides computers, power, and the necessary bottom time that allows scientists to do this work directly on the reef. The advantage is that measurements are made under natural conditions, and the corals are not stressed by removing them from the reef into the laboratory for study. Additionally, a detailed study of coral morphology will be conducted to help explain feeding strategies used by different coral species.
Several factors affect the health and distribution of corals within a reef.
Water motion has large impacts on coral biology, affecting processes such as distribution, competition, larval dispersal, fragmentation, activity of predators, and sedimentation. Water motion also delivers prey to corals and enhances uptake and exchange of nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other ions. Previous work by Sebens and his students documented that the shape of the coral , and the size and density of polyps affects how corals feed. A typical reef experiences a wide range of flows, and detailed measurements of water motion using various instruments will be collected during the mission. A special current meter is used to measure flow speeds at Conch Reef.