Fong & Glynn 2000 "A Regional Model to Predict Coral Population Dynamics in Response to El Niño Southern Oscillation"

Question 1

Objective of paper

Answer 1

Modify existing local model to a regional one. Model was designed to predict changes in coral population dynamics (size-structured population model) in response to El Niño southern oscillation of different frequency and magnitude.
The coral Gardinerosis planulata was used as model.

Question 2

Old model incorporates what?

And which factors were added to the new model?

Answer 2

Old model incorporates coral growth, predation by A. planci, and mortality associated with ENSO.

New model was modified by extending the coral growth-temperature relationship to include lower temperatures (which were observed in the areas with seasonal upwelling).
ENSO associated mortality was modified by incorporating a dynamic function that relates partial mortality of corals in different size classes to the rate of temperature change during an ENSO event.

Question 3

Regional gradient from what to what?

Answer 3

Area characterized by relatively high annual temperature and low variability
to
Areas with lower annual temperature subject to seasonal upwelling.

Question 4

What did the paper find?

Answer 4

Increasing ENSO frequency in the Upwelling Area resulted in an increase in the proportion of smaller colonies.

The same increase in ENSO frequency in the thermally stable reef (with no upwelling) had little effect on the population.