Can environmental records be extracted from coral skeletons from Moreton Bay, Australia, a subtropical, turbid environment?

Roberts, Lisa G.; Harriott, V. J.

doi:10.1007/s00338-003-0337-y

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…For C. microphthalma, Gulf and Oman Sea growth rates were relatively comparable to the few available records for Cyphastrea ( Figure 5A). The range of annual linear extension for C. microphthalma in this study was similar to values reported from C. serailia at Lord Howe Island (3.0 mm.yr −1 , Harriott, 1999) and C. ocellina in Hawaii (3.9 mm.yr −1 , Romano, 1990), but about half that of C. serailia at Moreton Bay (7.2-10.4 mm.yr −1 , Roberts and Harriott, 2003). Among these published records, there was no clear relationship between annual linear extension and local temperature parameters.…”

Section: Growth Comparisons Among Conspecifics In the Indo-pacificsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Growth rates from the Gulf were then compared to growth estimates for both P. daedalea and C. microphthalma sampled on shallow (4-6 m) fringing reef in the Oman Sea, as well as published values for Platygyra and Cyphastrea spp. from tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific reefs (Weber and White, 1974;Romano, 1990;Babcock, 1991;Harriott, 1999;Roberts and Harriott, 2003).…”

Section: Species and Site Locationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Species-Specific Coral Calcification Responses to the Extreme Environment of the Southern Persian Gulf

et al. 2018

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Sustained accretion of calcium carbonate (mostly by scleractinian corals) is fundamental for maintaining the structure and function of coral reef ecosystems, but may be greatly constrained by extreme and rapidly changing environmental conditions. Corals in the southern Persian Gulf already experience extreme temperature ranges (<20 to >34 • C), chronic hypersalinity (>43 psu) and frequent light limitation (<100 µmol photons m −2 s −1). We compared annual rates of calcification for two of the most common coral species in the region (Platygyra daedalea and Cyphastrea microphthalma) along marked gradients in environmental conditions in the southern Persian Gulf and into the Oman Sea. Overall calcification rates were 32% higher in P. daedalea colonies (x = 1.103 g cm −2 y −1 , n = 46) than in C. microphthalma (x = 0.835 g cm −2 y −1 , n = 37), probably reflecting inter-specific differences in energy allocation and skeletal density. There was also considerable variation in calcification rates among individual colonies from the same locations that was unrelated to depth or photosymbiont type. However, most interestingly, P. daedalea and C. microphthalma exhibited contrasting trends in mean annual calcification rates across locations. For P. daedalea, calcification rates were lowest at Delma, where the minimum temperatures were lowest and salinity was highest, and increased across the southern Persian Gulf with increases in minimum temperatures and decreases in salinity. These data suggest that calcification rates of P. daedalea are most constrained by minimum temperatures, which is consistent with the strong relationship between annual calcification rates and minimum local temperatures recorded across the Indo-Pacific. Conversely, linear extension and calcification of C. microphthalma in the southern Persian Gulf was lowest at Ras Ghanada, where there was lowest light and highest maximum temperatures. These data reveal striking taxonomic differences in the specific environmental constraints on coral calcification, which will further reinforce changes in the structure of coral assemblages with ongoing global climate change.

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Section: Growth Comparisons Among Conspecifics In the Indo-pacificsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Species and Site Locationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species-Specific Coral Calcification Responses to the Extreme Environment of the Southern Persian Gulf

et al. 2018

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“…While changes in the overall size of scleractinian colonies are fundamentally dependent on the deposition of calcium carbonate (i.e., calcification), the relationship between colony growth and calcification is complex. Calcification (and the associated change in weight of the coral skeleton) does not always relate directly to changes in the overall dimensions of a colony because 1) aragonite (the mineral form of CaCO 3 forming the skeletons of scleractinians) is not always laid down in areas of active linear extension (e.g., secondary thickening or infilling in Acropora; Gladfelter 1982); 2) differences in gross morphology and the primary axis of growth lead to differing levels of colony expansion for the same quantities of aragonite deposition; 3) the porosity or density of the skeleton varies within and among colonies, and as a function of environmental conditions, thereby Table 1 Coral taxa reported to have regular growth bands that may or may not be used to retrospectively measure rates of linear extension or calcification throughout the life of the colony Corals with distinct growth bands, known to record annual growth Acropora palmata (Gladfelter & Gladfelter 1979) Agaricia agaricites (Stearn et al 1977) Astrea (= Montastraea) curta (Harriott 1999) Balanophyllia europaea (Goffredo et al 2009) Cladocora caespitosa (Kružić et al 2012) Coelastrea (= Goniastrea) aspera (Babcock 1988(Babcock , 1991 Colpophyllia natans (Huston 1985) Cyphastrea serailia (Harriott 1999, Roberts & Harriott 2003 Diploastrea heliopora (Corrège et al 2004, Cantin et al 2010 Diploria labyrinthiformis Dipsastraea (= Favia) pallida (Highsmith 1979, Harriott 1999 D. speciosa (Knutson et al 1972 Gardineroseris planulata (Guzmán & Cortés 1989) Goniastrea favulus (Babcock 1988(Babcock , 1991 G. retiformis (Buddemeier et al 1974) G. (= Favia) stelligera (Buddemeier et al 1974) Hydnophora microconos (Buddemeier et al 1974) Lobactis (= Fungia) scutaria (Jokiel & Tyler 1992) Lophelia pertusa (Mortensen et al 1998) Montastraea cavernosa (Highsmith et al 1983) Orbicella (= Montastraea) annularis O. faveolata …”

Section: Contrasting Measures Of Coral Growthmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Contribution of the Genus Littorina to the Field of Evolutionary Ecology

2015

Oceanography and Marine Biology

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Growth is a fundamental biological trait, generally considered to have an important role in structuring populations and communities. Accordingly, many studies have quantified growth rates of scleractinian corals, but using a variety of different methods and measures that may or may not be comparable. The purpose of this review is to compile extensive data on the growth of corals, to relate disparate methods of measuring coral growth, and to explore spatial, temporal, and taxonomic variation in growth rates. The most common metric of coral growth is linear extension, measured as unidirectional change in branch length or colony radius. Rates of linear extension vary greatly among corals, being highest among arborescent Acropora species. This is not unexpected given the limited carbonate investment in producing long, slender branches compared to solid hemispherical colonies. However, differences in the way that extension rates are actually measured (e.g., linear extension of individual branches vs. changes in the mean solid radius of massive corals) could potentially bias interspecific comparisons of coral growth. The most comparable measure of growth, which gives unbiased estimates of growth across different growth forms, is average annual calcification or change in weight normalized to a measure of size. Surprisingly, even calcification rates appear to be much higher for branching Acropora compared to other coral genera, which contributes to the high extension rates recorded for this genus. Despite inconsistencies and incompatibilities among studies of coral growth, there is clear evidence that coral growth rates vary spatially and temporally, largely in response to light and water quality (e.g., turbidity), temperature, and aragonite saturation state. Ongoing changes in environmental conditions (e.g., due to climate change) are expected to have generally negative consequences for the growth of scleractinian corals, which may be further exacerbated by shifts in assemblage structure towards relatively slowgrowing species.

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“…Moreton Bay is a large, shallow mesotidal embayment (average depth ~8 m) situated in southeast Queensland, Australia (Figure 1; Pantus and Dennison, 2005; Roberts and Harriott, 2003). The bay is enclosed on the eastern side by two large barrier sand islands, North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Island, and a number of smaller islands.…”

Section: Regional Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mid-Holocene sea-level and coral reef demise: U-Th dating of subfossil corals in Moreton Bay, Australia

et al. 2013

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It is increasingly apparent that sea-level data (e.g. microfossil transfer functions, dated coral microatolls and direct observations from satellite and tidal gauges) vary temporally and spatially at regional to local scales, thus limiting our ability to model future sea-level rise for many regions. Understanding sealevel response at 'far-field' locations at regional scales is fundamental for formulating more relevant sea-level rise susceptibility models within these regions under future global change projections. Fossil corals and reefs in particular are valuable tools for reconstructing past sea levels and possible environmental phase shifts beyond the temporal constraints of instrumental records. This study used abundant surface geochronological data based on in situ subfossil corals and precise elevation surveys to determine previous sea level in Moreton Bay, eastern Australia, a far-field site. A total of 64 U-Th dates show that relative sea level was at least 1.1 m above modern lowest astronomical tide (LAT) from at least ˜6 600 cal. yr BP. Furthermore, a rapid synchronous demise in coral reef growth occurred in Moreton Bay ˜5 800 cal. yr BP, coinciding with reported reef hiatus periods in other areas around the Indo-Pacific region. Evaluating past reef growth patterns and phases allows for a better interpretation of anthropogenic forcing versus natural environmental/climatic cycles that effect reef formation and demise at all scales and may allow better prediction of reef response to future global change.

show abstract

Can environmental records be extracted from coral skeletons from Moreton Bay, Australia, a subtropical, turbid environment?

Cited by 13 publications

References 18 publications

Species-Specific Coral Calcification Responses to the Extreme Environment of the Southern Persian Gulf

Species-Specific Coral Calcification Responses to the Extreme Environment of the Southern Persian Gulf

The Contribution of the Genus Littorina to the Field of Evolutionary Ecology

Mid-Holocene sea-level and coral reef demise: U-Th dating of subfossil corals in Moreton Bay, Australia

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