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A non-motorized dye ejector for visualization of flow in situ and its use with coral reef crinoids

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Abstract

We describe a portable, non-motorized device for delivering a tracer dye into seawater under field conditions. Dye is ejected at a constant flow rate over a period of tens of minutes. The ejector works in a wide range of ambient pressures without external energy requirements. The flow rate is adjusted simply by varying the length of the delivery tube. The dye streams permitted observations of the upcurrent and downcurrent flow regimes for a filter-feeding crinoid (Comanthus bennetti) living at a depth of 8 m on a coral reef. The results indicate that the crinoid may enhance the rate of particle capture by changing the scale of turbulence in the water passing through the mesh of the filtration fan.

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Literature cited

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Author notes

  1. R. S. Colman, H. C. Crenshaw & J. R. Strickler

    Present address: Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3, 4810, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 54 Coleman Drive, 7890, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    R. S. Colman

  2. Department of Zoology, Duke University, 27706, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    H. C. Crenshaw

  3. Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, 45221, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    D. L. Meyer

  4. Department of Biosciences, University of Southern California, 90089-0371, Los Angeles, California, USA

    J. R. Strickler

Authors
  1. R. S. Colman
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  2. H. C. Crenshaw
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  3. D. L. Meyer
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  4. J. R. Strickler
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Additional information

Communicated by N. D. Holland, La Jolla

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Colman, R.S., Crenshaw, H.C., Meyer, D.L. et al. A non-motorized dye ejector for visualization of flow in situ and its use with coral reef crinoids. Mar. Biol. 83, 125–128 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394719

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394719

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