Hydrothermal Effects on Isotope and Trace Element Records in Modern Reef Corals: A Study of Porites lobata from Tutum Bay, Ambitle Island, Papua New Guinea

The coral reef in Tutum Bay, Ambitle Island, Papua New Guinea, is exposed to the vigorous discharge of hydrothermal fluids (up to 98C). This study investigates eight Porites lobata samples that were collected throughout the area of active venting at varying distances from vent sites. A sample from a non-hydrothermal coral (C-29), collected 10 km north of Tutum Bay, was analyzed for comparative purposes. Density banding is moderately well …