Historic records of phosphorus levels in the reef-building coral Montastrea annularis from Tobago, West Indies

At Culloden Bay and Buccoo Reef, Tobago, West Indies, which are considered pristine and impacted environments, respectively, the phosphorus content of the reef-building coral, Montastrea annularis, was determined and compared. Buccoo Reef is stressed by sewage and domestic wastes. Results showed that, for Culloden Bay, coral reef values of total, organic, and inorganic P ranged 2.36 4.87, 0.16 2.72, and 0.64 3.30 mu g/g, respectively. The values for the Buccoo Reef samples ranged 2.32 6.46, 0.02 5.56, and 0.14 2.09 mu g/g, respectively. The coral cores were found to reflect the environmental conditions, particularly as they are impacted by adjacent land use and associated effluent runoff.