The influences of Taketomi submarine hot spring on the Sekisei lagoon coral reef ecosystem

Abstract

Taketomi submarine hot spring was located at bottom of Sekisei lagoon (about 20m below sea surface), 500m east from Taketomi island. It is noted that hydrothermal fluid and gas are venting in this hot spring field, where fringing coral reefs are widely distributed. In the shallow hot spring filed, chemosynthetic organisms can habitat similarly to deep sea hydrothermal vent field. We are interested in the relationship between the chemosynthetic and photosynthetic ecosystems. The purpose of this study is to observe the spatial distribution of physical and chemical condition around the Taketomi hot spring, and to discuss on the influences of hot spring on the surrounded coral reef ecosystem.