Beachrock formation via microbial dissolution and re-precipitation of carbonate minerals

McCutcheon, Jenine; Nothdurft, Luke D.; Webb, Gregory E.; Paterson, David L.; Southam, Gordon

doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2016.10.010

Cited by 23 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Biological processes also have been suggested (Davies and Kinsey, 1973;Krumbein, 1979;Maxwell, 1962) with recent studies highlighting the potential importance of microorganisms in beachrock cementation processes (Danjo and Kawasaki, 2013;Khan et al, 2016;Krumbein, 1979;Neumeier, 1999;Novitsky, 1981;Webb and Jell, 1997;Webb et al, 1999). Our recent work (McCutcheon et al, 2016) examining beachrock from Heron Island (Capricorn Group, Great Barrier Reef, Australia) demonstrated that microbes are actively contributing to carbonate dissolution and precipitation in beachrock.…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…The increase in Ca (Chazottes et al, 1995). In natural beachrock formation in the intertidal zone, possible explanations for cyanobacterial boring include: nutrient or space acquisition; and protection from grazing, UV radiation, wave activity, and desiccation during low tide (Cockell and Herrera, 2008;McCutcheon et al, 2016). Some of the borings were likely present in the grains prior to sample collection; however, those found in the newly precipitated cements indicate that active microbial boring was taking place during the experiment (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Beachrock hosts a unique shoreline ecosystem of lithophytic microorganisms that aid in generating these lithified deposits by enabling carbonate cement precipitation (Díez et al, 2007;McCutcheon et al, 2016;Webb and Jell, 1997;Webb et al, 1999). Beachrock forms only in the intertidal zone, and is known to form relatively quickly on timescales as short as a few years (Chivas et al, 1986;Easton, 1974;Frankel, 1968;Vousdoukas et al, 2007).…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The presence of cemented microbialites in the Heron Island beachrock has been one of the primary pieces of evidence suggesting a microbial influence in the lithification of these deposits (McCutcheon et al, 2016;Webb and Jell, 1997;Webb et al, 1999). The microbial beachrock ecosystem is composed of a consortium of microbial endoliths living on, within, and between the carbonate grains that make up these deposits (McCutcheon et al, 2016).…”

Section: 1mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The carbonate beach sand was collected from the supratidal portion of the beach and consisted of carbonate sediment 0.5-3 mm in diameter. The apparent youngest generation of beachrock was selected as a starting material for this study because it contains less cement than its older counterpart, a characteristic of beachrock that results in the younger generations being more porous and hosting more microbial biomass relative to older beachrock (McCutcheon et al, 2016). Furthermore, younger beachrock was chosen for experimental use as it contains less cement than the older beachrock, making it easier to discern the precipitation of new cements during the experiment.…”

Section: 1mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Building biogenic beachrock: Visualizing microbially-mediated carbonate cement precipitation using XFM and a strontium tracer

et al. 2017

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The fate of reef islands is a topic of ongoing debate in the face of climate change-induced sea-level rise and increased cyclone intensity. Increased erosion and changes to the supply of reef-derived sediment may put sand reef cays at risk of dramatic morphological changes.These changes may have negative implications for the existence of reef cay environments, which host vital sea turtle and bird rookery habitats. Beachrock, consolidated carbonate beach sediment in the intertidal zone, forms naturally on many tropical beaches and reduces the erosion rates of these beaches when compared to unconsolidated sand. In spite of the critical role beachrock plays in stabilizing some reef cay shores, the method of beachrock formation is still incompletely understood. In this investigation, beachrock was synthesized using beach sand and beachrock samples from Heron Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia) in aquarium experiments in which natural beachrock formation conditions were simulated. Beachrock was produced in two aquaria wherein the water chemistry was influenced by microorganisms derived from the natural beachrock 'inoculum', whereas no cementation occurred in an aquarium that lacked a microbial inoculum and was controlled only by physicochemical evapoconcentration. The new cements in the synthesized beachrock were analyzed using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy and were identified using a Sr-tracer added to the experimental seawater. The resulting precipitates cement sand grains together and contain abundant microfossils of the microorganisms on whose exopolymer they nucleated, demonstrating the fundamental role microbes play in beachrock formation. These results are of interest because beachrock could be utilized as a natural coastline stabilization strategy on sand reef cays, and in turn, protect the unique habitats reef islands support.

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Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 66%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: 1mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: 1mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Building biogenic beachrock: Visualizing microbially-mediated carbonate cement precipitation using XFM and a strontium tracer

et al. 2017

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Coral rubble dynamics in the Anthropocene and implications for reef recovery

Kenyon

Doropoulos

Wolfe

et al. 2022

Limnology & Oceanography

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With rubble predicted to increase on coral reefs worldwide, we review the physical, biological, and ecological dynamics of rubble beds, with a focus on how rubble generation, mobilization, binding, and coral recruitment is expected to change on future reefs. Major disturbances, including storms and coral bleaching, are predicted to increase in intensity and frequency, and-like localized impacts including blast fishing and ship groundingsgenerate large quantities of coral rubble. Reefs will have increasingly smaller recovery windows between successive disturbances, leading to persistence of unstable rubble beds on reefs. With more severe storms and increased bioerosion on future reefs, rubble mobilization thresholds will be met more often as smaller, less complex rubble pieces are generated. If rubble remains stable for adequate time, it can be bound by organisms including sponges and coralline algae, and eventually be cemented. However, increasing rubble mobilization frequencies will reduce the time available for binding, while changing ocean chemistry could reduce the efficacy of calcifying binders. Ultimately, increased rubble cover will negatively impact coral recruitment into rubble beds. Rubble mobilization abrades and smothers corals, and rubble beds typically experience altered environmental and ecological conditions to the coral frameworks that precede them. Several knowledge gaps exist in relation to improved rubble mobilization thresholds, binding rates and strengths, and coral survival in varying rubble bed types and hydrodynamic regimes. Addressing these knowledge gaps will improve our ability to predict the recovery trajectory of rubble beds and assess the need for stabilization interventions.

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Understanding and creating biocementing beachrocks via biostimulation of indigenous microbial communities

Ramachandran

Polat

Mukherjee

2020

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol

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Beachrock formation via microbial dissolution and re-precipitation of carbonate minerals

Cited by 23 publications

References 68 publications

Building biogenic beachrock: Visualizing microbially-mediated carbonate cement precipitation using XFM and a strontium tracer

Building biogenic beachrock: Visualizing microbially-mediated carbonate cement precipitation using XFM and a strontium tracer

Coral rubble dynamics in the Anthropocene and implications for reef recovery

Understanding and creating biocementing beachrocks via biostimulation of indigenous microbial communities

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