Kauaʻi record · KCA-EP-0145
Benthic–pelagic coupling on reefs
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About Benthic–pelagic coupling on reefs
Exchange of particles, plankton, nutrients and metabolites between the water column and benthic organisms.
Names and classification
- Other names
- benthic-pelagic coupling on reefs
- Family
- Reef Building, Recruitment & Benthic Dynamics
- Record type
- ecological_process
Habitat and ecology
- Ecological role
- Supports Atlas reasoning about ecosystem function, dependencies, threats, conservation leverage points and cross-module consequences.
Process and seasonal context
- Definition
- Exchange of particles, plankton, nutrients and metabolites between the water column and benthic organisms.
- Drivers
- temperature; light; water quality; herbivory; currents; substrate
- Inputs
- gametes; larvae; carbonate ions; plankton; light
- Outputs
- coral recruits; CaCO₃ framework; habitat; sediment; reef biomass
- Spatial scales
- colony → reef patch → reef tract
- Temporal scales
- hours → centuries
- Validity and limits
- Context-specific; do not extrapolate across habitat, season, elevation, salinity or disturbance state without evidence.