The anatomy, morphology and distribution of calcareous encrusting organisms (crustose coralline algae, bryozoans, foraminiferans, serpulid worms and corals) from the Recent reefs of Barbados have been related to both physical environmental and biotic factors within the marine environment in order to produce a model of encruster ecology. This model has been used in the interpretation of the conditions of growth of uplifted Pleistocene reefs on the island. Patterns of encruster distribution are based on measurements of encruster size and/or density of colonisation of both natural (reef) and artificial (glass, brick, wood, perspex anti concrete) substrates. For each encruster group, distribution can be related to the influence of specific environmental factors on the settlement and growth of developing individuals. The specific way in which this mechanism operates has been investigated for each encruster group. The differing ability of the various encrusters to withstand and to utilise variations in the physical and biotic environments results in a zonation of species on the Recent reefs. This zonation is summarised in the form of a model of encruster distribution which lists the dominant encrusters found within each habitat (as defined by depth, degree of illumination and hydrodynamic exposure) on the reef. This distribution model is used in the investigation of the palaeoecology of the Pleistocene reefs of Barbados where encrusters have documented not only the environmental conditions prevailing at the time of growth of the reef framework, but, by continued growth, have recorded the entire preservational history of the various framework components after their death and prior to burial sediment. Using encrusters, a detailed picture of Pleistocene reef ecology has been constructed. Finally, the various methods of crust growth are outlined, along with a discussion of the role of encrusters in the construction of the reef and a description of the way in which other processes interract with and affect crust growth and the products which result.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:657387 |
| Date | January 1976 |
| Creators | Martindale, W. |
| Publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/1842/12589 |
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