High-precision measurements of changes in oxygen and various parameters of the CO2 system in sea water were used to monitor community metabolism in four Pacific coral reef systems. The reefs studied were One Tree Island and Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu Island, Hawaii and Johnston Island in the central Pacific Ocean.
This research was undertaken to gain further understanding of carbon fluxes through coral reef systems at an operational level.
Data was collected during November 1961 at Heron Island, and during September- November, 1967 at One Tree Island.