Coral reefs as a tool for monitoring environmental and radiation hazards |
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| Authors: | Wedad R Alharbi Hashem A Madkour Atef El-Taher |
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| Institution: | 1.Physics Department, Faculty of Science for Girls,King Abdulaziz University,Jeddah,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;2.National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Red Sea Branch,Hurghada,Egypt;3.Physics Department, Faculty of Science,Qassim University,Buraydah,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
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| Abstract: | Analysis of coral reef species enables characterization of the coral reefs and the degree to which human activities influence the reef composition. Geochemical characteristics, X-ray diffraction, and natural radionuclides analyses of four common coral reef species representing the branching and massive forms were conducted at the three areas under threat (Quseir Harbor, Safaga Harbor, and El-Esh area) along the Red Sea coast. Branching recorded higher carbonates and lower organic matter than the massive forms. Stylophora pistillata at Safaga Harbor and El-Esh area and Acropora humilis at Qusier Harbor recorded the highest carbonate percentages (96.88, 96.24, and 96.89%, respectively) meanwhile Platygyra daedalea at Safaga Harbor recorded the highest organic matter contents (5.07 and 4.91%). The highest Ca contents were observed in S. pistillata and Porites solida (65.87 and 64.87%), the highest Mg was in Acropora humilis and P. daedalea (1.06 and 0.88%) at Qusier Harbor, whilst the highest Sr was in S. pistillata and P. daedalea at Safaga Harbor. Then highest value of 226Ra recorded in A. humilis and P. solida (71 ± 3.5 Bq/kg and 63 ± 3.1 Bq/k) and 232Th in S. pistillata at El-Esh area may attribute to petroleum exploration activities. A. humilis and P. daedalea at Safaga Harbor recorded significant high 40K values (505 ± 30 and 472 ± 13 Bq/kg, respectively) relative to the other localities. The low Ca and High Sr as well as the highest averages of 232Th and 40K at Safaga Harbor indicated that the coral reef communities were highly affected by the terrestrial inputs from phosphate shipments. |
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