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This study investigates effects of eutrophication on settlement, abundance, mortality and community structure of soleractinian corals on fringing reefs on the west coast of Barbados, W.I. Juvenile abundance was lower, but juvenile size larger, on eutrophic than less eutrophic reefs. The lower abundance results at least in part from a higher juvenile mortality on eutrophic reefs. Algae were more abundant and grazers (Diadema antillarum and herbivorous fish) less abundant on eutrophic reefs. Juvenile community structure on all reefs, and adult community structure on eutrophic reefs, was dominated by type 1 corals (high recruitment, high natural mortality). Type 2 corals (low recruitment, low natural mortality) were common in adult communities on less eutrophic reefs. Settlement of coral recruits on artificial substrates was lower on more eutrophic reefs.

Maintaining a safe water supply is particularly crucial for karst islands such as Barbados. In order to take proper measures to prevent and reduce saltwater intrusion and to safely extract the right fraction of recharge, karst characteristics must first be fully understood. Geomorphologic investigations of karst surface features of the Porters & Trents groundwater catchments (Barbados) employed GIS technologies to explore the development and distribution of sinkhole features. Contour-based digital elevation models, surface geology, lithology, and remote sensing images were incorporated in this investigation. Seventy-six sinkholes were investigated and occupied approximately 1% (0.16 km2) of the total area (16.41 km2) under study. It was found that age of karstification is not related to age of a terrace. The middle terrace was the one found to be most karstified. Yet, degree of karstification within a terrace is age related. Also, cluster density increases with age of coral within the middle terrace. Density of sinkholes within a cluster also increases with age of coral within the middle terrace. / Finally, this study shows that sinkhole long axis, cluster elongation direction, sinkhole alignment and karst lineament all have a tendency to a northeast alignment. This supports the idea that underlying coral rock fracture and conduits have a northeast orientation.

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No description available.