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PAGE 8 - PI AINOEALKR - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12,1980 Study Coral Reef Ecology Viewed from 2,000 feet out the window of a wind-tossed, 10-seater piane, the tiny white speck seems misplaced among these lush, palm-fringed islands, a chain of 350 emeralds glistening in the azure blue Caribbean waters for 170 miles along the coast of Panama. The Kuna Indians, sole permanent inhabitants of the San Bias, call this snippet of land "Demar Tupu," or Sand Island. This bit of tropical real estate is no Fantasy Island. With two primitive bamboo shacks and no electricity or running water, the island is a mere 3,000 square feet of arid sand and rocks, ten­ tatively situated, like the rest of the San Bias islands, atop a series of coral reef platforms. Fortunately, this very geological feature makes it an ideal base of operations for its tenants-a small group of young scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research institute. Within a 10 minute boat ride from the island, they can explore with snorkel or scuba gear the underwater habitats and life histories of an incredible array of sealife-from sea urchins to fishes that change sex (the latter are found abundantly on coral reefs). By studying what is happening on and to these reefs, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of one of the most complex biological systems in the world. Reefs are masses of calcium carbonate built up from the sea floor by the accumulation of the skeletons of a profusion of animals, especially corals, which are simple, multicellular animals. A remarkable feature of all reef building corals is their symbiosis with single-celled algae, which actually live, conduct photosynthesis and divide within the cells of their coral hosts. This reef ecosystem supports more species of animals and plants than any other marine system These animals and plants live in complex, competitive and sometimes symbiotic relationships with each other, providing a major source of food in the tropics. At Demar Tupu, Smithsonian scientist Dr. Harris Lessios is trying to unravel some of these in­ tricate reef relationships. The 29-year old Greek-bom and U.S. educated marine biologist has been in­ vestigating the impact of sea urchins on reef develop­ ment. Sea urchins are probably better known to swimmers and snorkelers as something to ^avoid-some of these spine-covered marine in­ vertebrates belonging to the Echinoderm phylum can cause a nasty, though not usually poisonous, sting. Worldwide, there are more than 700 species of sea ur­ chins, the result of millions of years of evolutionary good fortune. Because they are not particularly mobile, sea urchins are relatively easy to study in one locale. Most important to Lessios, ur­ chins are voracious eaters In temperate waters-off the New England coast, for instance-they decimate large populations of kelp, a giant brown seaweed that serves as food source for many marine creatures. The eating habits of Urchins in the tropics-which include grazing on algae as well as on living or dead coral-are not well-understood. Lessios arrives at Demar Tupu each month after a journey by car, plane and boat from his laboratory on Naos Island, located on the Pacific side of Panama. Once at the San Bias island, he spends four and one-half hours a day, two weeks at a time, scuba diving to ob­ serve the common black sea urchin, Diademia an- tillarum. To determine exactly what Diadema does to one coral species, a globe-like coral called Colpophyllia natans, Lessios is carrying out ex­ periments 30 feet un­ derwater on Mackerel reef, a small patch reef near Demar Tupu. The urchins are so plentiful there that thtfy can literally cover a coral base like a prickly, black unwelcome mat. On the average, he has counted 11 urchins in every 10-square foot area on this reef. Hovering in the crystal clear water in wetsuit and airtank, Lessios selects two adjacent clumps of Colpophyllia. Then, he constructs a 3 foot high wire fence around one clump of coral. Next, he removes all the Diadema from the fenced area, carefully plucking them off the coral and surrounding ocean floor Fish are able to reach both sets of coral and graze on them an on the algae growing there. But because the fences have a horizontal lip, the urchins are unable to climb up and over the fen­ ces; they can reach only the unfenced coral. Each month, Lessios returns to the 13 test sites built so far and measures how# much the coral has grown and how much has been eaten. The difference in size between the fenced and unfenced coral is due primarily to the urchins. "These urchins are true gluttons," Lessios says. "There are very definite HtcllBHKY Rome Home «t Amn>(*n D'f» WHtishinas PRE-5ERSON indications that they inflict major damage on this type of coral, perhaps because Colpophyllia is softer than most other types of coral." From hours of underwater o b s e r v a t i o n s a n d measurements, Lessios has pieced together this scenario: The urchins move onto a coral base that has already been damaged or killed by something else and begin to gobble away at the rate of a quarter of an ounce of calcium carbonate~the material making up the skeleton of the living coral- per animal per day. Lessios came to this conslusion after dissecting the stomachs of many urchins. '"Hris may not sound like much, but at this rate, each urchin can eat away a few inches of the coral base every couple of years." he notes. One dramatic result of this gluttony is the formation of mushroom-shaped coral where a "cap" of live coral sits on a precariously slender calcium carbonate "stem." A strong wave can topple coral that has taken on this form, frequently resulting in its death. On another nearby reef, Lessios has found very few Diadema and, perhaps not surprisingly, Colpophyllia fares much better there. "That Colpophyllia does so much better on the second reef is additional evidence that urchins are among its chief enemies," he says, "although other factors can also damage coral." Although Lessios has found major damage to the coral from Diadema, he is not convinced that sea ur­ chins are always detrimental to all kinds of coral. "Some scientists have suggested that urchins may actually be beneficial in some cases," he says, "because they eat filamentous algae which can choke young coral colonies as they begin to grow on the ocean floor and try to establish themselves. But urchins are indiscriminate grazers. Whether they cause damage to coral may depend on how many urchins are in a given area." To determine whether patterns of coral abundance are correlated with urchin populations, Lessios is ex­ panding his fenced studies to seven other species of coral using other reefs around Demar Tupu. These long- term studies may take two years or more. An assignment in such exotic environs might well make other scientists en­ vious. But between diving and daily housekeeping chores, Lessios says he rarely has time to ap­ preciate the beauty of his surroundings. And always there is a constant battle to keep the shoreline of the tiny, man-made island from returning to the ocean. "Our hope is that these studies along with those conducted by others will give us more information about the various components of the reef ecosystem," Lessios says, "so that some day we may say with some con­ fidence that we understand it." | SERVICE NEWS 1 Basic Training Ends For McHenry Airman Airman Erich H. Burger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Burger of 1102 Fisher road, McHenry, has com­ pleted Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force base, Texas. The airman, who is remaining at Lackland for specialized training in the security police field, studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs and received special in­ struction in human relations. Completion of this training earned the individual credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community college of the Air Force. Seaton Ship Wins* 6th Fleet Olympics VOTING CENSUS Did you vote on November 4? Were you resigered but did not vote? The Bureau of the Census will ask these and other questions about voting in the 1980 elections in a sample of households in this area during the week of Nov. 17-21. Stanely D. Moore, director of the bureau's regional office in Chicago, stressed that no questions will be asked about party affiliation or for whom a person voted. The survey will provide a profile of American voters and non- voters by characteristics such as age, sex, residence, education, and labor force status. 100 Million The oldest river in North America is the N$w River in West Virginia. The headwater portion of the ancient Teays River, the New River began tumbling out of the Appala­ chians 100 million years ago. Lt. Jr. Grade John M. Seaton, a 1972 graduate of McHenry high school, is finding life in the service exciting. He reported aboard the USS Comte De Grasse Aug. 18 of this year in Mombosa, Kenya. During the Count's 1 9 8 0 M e d i t e r r a n e a n deployment, the ship won the 6th fleet Damage Control Olympics 1 and 11. The Count left the Suez Canal twice and served in the U.S. Mideast force for two months. While with the Sixth fleet in the Mediterranean, the ship participated in four major fleet exercises: Dawn Patrol 80, Multiplex 80, National Week 80 and Display Determination 80. USS Comte DeGrasse visited the following ports: Rota, Spain; LaSpegia, Naples, and Gaeta, Italy; Tunis, Tunisia; Cannes, France; Athens, Greece, Souola Bay, Crete; Djibouti; Mombasa, Kenya; Gibralter British Crown Colony; and Tangier, Morocco. LJG Seaton is combat information center officer aboard the Count. He was transferred from the USS Guadalcanal in May, where he had served since August, 1977. He also was awarded the Surface Warfare Officer "USE OUR LAYAWAY PLAN" CONTEMPORARY SOFA & LOVESEAT VALUE $1195 *795 3 PC. BEDROOM SET WITH TWO MIRRORS REG. $1395.00 899 95 ROUND 7 PC. 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NO PLASTICS OR SIMULATIONS. Thinking About Retirement? ""T SAVE THOUSANDS BEFORE DECEMBER 1 Prices are going up. Now you can choose Life-Care or Long Life Retirement at Harvard Retirement Village at the lowest possible price. Our prices must increase December 1 . Save by reserving your apartment now. At Harvard Retirement Village, your lifestyle will be complete, independent, comfortable and active. Live in one of our spacious apartments surrounded by companions, knowing that if you ever become ill, our skilled Med-Center will provide professional care. Join neighbors and friends in any or all of the planned activities-crafts, woodworking, fun excursions and more. Call us collect today to find out more about Harvard Village. Or mail this coupon for more information. V mm VILLAGE U.S. 14--one mile north of Route 173 P. O. 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During the training, students receive instruction in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, military courtesy, military justice, first aid, and Army history and traditions. Ricky Adams In Training Pfc. Ricky L. Adams, son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis X. Adenau III, of 2318 West­ ward drive, Spring Grove, is attending basic training at Fort Knox, Ky. During the training, students receive instruction in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, military courtesy, military justice, first aid, and Army history and traditions. Mosl Popular Banff National Park, the first of Canada's 28 national parks, is also its most popular, accord­ ing to National Geographic. Seven million people a year visit the park in western Alberta. spurgeons - We offer the LARGEST selection of UNIFORMS In McHenry County! 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