Physiographic Unit for Understanding the Spatial Structure of the Coral Reef Ecosystem at the Yoron Island Fringing Reef, Ryukyu Islands

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  • サンゴ礁裾礁における空間構造把握のための自然地理的ユニットの設定―与論島東部サンゴ礁を例に―
  • サンゴショウ キョショウ ニ オケル クウカン コウゾウ ハアク ノ タメノ シゼン チリテキ ユニット ノ セッテイ ヨロントウ トウブ サンゴショウ オ レイ ニ
  • -与論島東部サンゴ礁を例に-

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The spatial structures of a 101-103 m scale on coral reefs were understood by reading aerial photographs and investigating the topography of the fringing reef at the eastern part of Yoron Island, Ryukyu Islands. This study set a new physiographic unit (PGU) at the coral reefs as well as studied zonation. PGU has the following characteristics. (1) In an aerial photo, a linear pattern comprising micro-landform arrangements is recognized on the reef flat; (2) Seawater flowing beyond the reef crest from the open sea and entering the moat before returning to the open sea through a breakout in the reef crest or a channel flowing parallel to the shoreline constitute a very common pattern in the research area; (3) The series of currents observed in the area constitute a water system resembling a drainage water system on land and 4 systems were arranged at the eastern part of Yoron Island ; (4) The movement of seawater is controlled by landforms such as reef crests, channels and lands (a cape), which might qualify as borders of PGUs ; (5) Movements controlled by such landforms are dominant, and tend to be longer in terms of time. In this study, a physiographic unit is defined as follows. (1) A unit that is distinguishable from other adjacent areas by its geomorphological borders ; (2) And, a unit that is distinguishable from other adjacent areas when referring to the movement systems of seawater and materials.<BR>The notion of spatial structures of coral reefs of a 101-103 meter scale was substantiated by this research using the overlapping zonation approach known here as PGU on reef flats. The spatial structure makes a frame of the coral reef ecosystem. Therefore, setting a PGU is thought to be effective for application to coral reef conservation.

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