I am writing a paper and applying previous microbioerosion rates to experimental coral substrates I deployed. I have the weight before and after deployment and have attributed relative amounts of weight loss to macroborers and grazers. I also wanted to include microborings but did not measure that directly so I was going to us previously measured values and apply them to the surface area of my substrates to see how much we would expect them to cause a reduction in weight. I remember hearing somewhere that microboring on DEAD substrate tends to occur on the tops of surfaces because most of the organisms require sunlight. Is this true? As such, should I apply the microbioeosion rates to the entire surface area of the substrate or to just half the surface area?
David,
I am looking forward to your paper once it is completed. I am attaching few papers that may be of help. In most studies that I am aware of coral skeletal dissolution is due primarily to the action of photosynthetic microborers, and thus they would probably be more abundant on the upper lit surfaces of experimental blocks. However, I have not come across studies that compared microbial activity on upper and lower sides of experimental surfaces. I am not sure how much heterotrophic microborers such as fungi contribute to the bioerosional process. You may be able to apply some of the techniques used in the attached studies to visually determine where you have most of the microboring activity and then base your decision on those results.
Tom
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