Download or read book Coral Bay Sediment Deposition and Reef Assessment Study written by Barry Devine and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This study has investigated the sediment deposition history of Coral Bay, St. John, USVI, and the surrounding waters where sediment is being deposited, the rate of sedimentation and when the sediment deposition rate increase began."--P. 7.

Download or read book Deep Reef Bioerosion and Deposition written by David Weinstein and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The structural complexity and geomorphic diversity of coral reefs are vital foundational characteristics responsible for the many ecological and economic benefits these ecosystems provide. Shallow-water coral reef geomorphology and structural sustainability is mostly determined by varying reef sedimentary components including: (1) sediment production (matrix) and deposition, (2) framework production and secondary carbonate accretion; (3) bioerosion; and (4) cementation. However, little is known regarding the variability and influence of these sedimentary processes in mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs), deep reef communities 30-150 m below sea-level. Despite recent increases in biological and ecological MCE studies, many crucial sedimentological research questions remain unaddressed. These unaddressed questions impede a greater understanding of mesophotic reef structural sustainability and potentially related habitat heterogeneity, carbonate reef shelf development and variability in mesophotic depths, and the general origins of modern coral reef biodiversity. Critical gaps in knowledge of mesophotic coral reef geomorphology and structural sustainability were addressed in this dissertation by conducting one of the first extensive sedimentological analyses of a mesophotic coral reef ecosystem. Beyond a general exploration of MCEs, the overall research goal was to identify basic sedimentary processes integral to the development, modification, and sustainability of mesophotic coral reef structure. The goal was also to determine the variability of the identified processes at different mesophotic reef habitats and investigate how these processes and potential variability impact shelf-wide habitat heterogeneity and long-term accretion. To address these goals, sedimentary analyses and ecological surveys were conducted at mesophotic coral reef habitats with distinct structurally characteristics, and neighboring shallow-water reef counterparts in the northern U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Analyses at all reefs were designed to address four specific aims: (1) categorization and comparison of various mesophotic reef sediment and cement attributes; (2) determination of exposed consolidated substrate reef bioerosion rates, and the distribution and variability of bioeroding groups; (3) quantification and determination of primary coral mesophotic reef framework builder linear growth and calcification rate variability, and comparison to live mesophotic framework bioerosion and secondary accretion rates; and (4) application of study results for carbonate budget analysis and assessment of geomorphic carbonate production status. Sediment and cement analysis (first aim) indicated that distinct MCE habitats produce subfacies. The interpreted hydrodynamic and biological interactions controlling mesophotic USVI subfacies have implications towards paleoenvironmental interpretations of ancient mesophotic reef deposits with similar sediment and cement characteristics. Significant differences in exposed consolidated substrate bioerosional processes were discovered between the analyzed habitats. These differences were found to primarily result from variation in parrotfish biomass and related controls on substrate exposure time and location in macroboring succession. Results also broadly confirm pervious hypothesizes that bioerosion decreases with depth along a carbonate shelf and have implications leaning toward rejection of traditional reef accretion theories. Analysis of coral growth identified statistically significant differences in mesophotic coral reef calcification rates, implying another potential long-term mechanism for enhancing mesophotic reef structural heterogeneity. However, on a larger scale, linear extension rates were found to fit within previously proposed models of decreasing coral growth rate with increasing depth. Mesophotic coral reef sedimentary analyses were compared in a newly developed carbonate budget model to analyze structural sustainability and consider implications of these analyses on mesophotic reef habitat heterogeneity and Holocene carbonate shelf accretion. All USVI mesophotic habitats examined were identified with net positive carbonate production despite significant variability in geomorphic production states. Additionally, comparisons with earlier benthic surveys suggest higher net USVI mesophotic reef carbonate production in the recent past, potentially implying these deeper reefs are not fully immune to modern global stressors impacting shallow-water reefs. Results indicated that mesophotic reef accretion was not the main driver of shelf-scale topographic relief. However, mesophotic carbonate production variability substantially contributes to habitat-scale structural relief and complexity and relatedly to overall ecosystem diversity. Specific mesophotic reef sedimentology research methods and the need for similar studies at other mesophotic reef habitats were suggested. Comprehensive sedimentology analysis of mesophotic coral reefs in the USVI provide new insight into reef structural sustainability, geomorphic status, and potential impacts from global stressors, and should be considered when developing specific reef sustainability models and management strategies.

Download or read book Year 2 written by Sarah Gray and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 31 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "We were awarded continued funding (for a 2nd year, 2014) from the DCRC (Domestic Coral Reef Conservation) Program to supplement ongoing funding (noncompetitive NOAA CRC) to support a joint terrestrial-marine sediment monitoring project to study how marine sediment dynamics are affected by watershed erosion, runoff and restoration activities in Coral Bay, St. John, USVI. In July 2013, the P.I. and Dr. Carlos Ramos-Scharrón of UT Austin in partnership with NOAA and community environmental managers, initiated a joint terrestrial-marine monitoring program to build on previous work to determine how ARRA-funded watershed restoration projects completed in Coral Bay in 2011 have impacted watershed runoff and marine sedimentation. In addition, the program initiated new monitoring approaches to evaluate the specific linkages between watershed processes and marine sedimentation in near-shore and coral reef areas. This grant funded field work for an additional season from Aug.-Nov. of 2014 and the follow-up data synthesis and interpretation. However, through cost savings, this grant has supported continued sampling through 2015 at two of our shoreline sites. Ultimately our aim was to a) understanding of the linkages between watershed processes and marine sedimentation, b) to evaluate the effectiveness of ARRA watershed restoration activities, b and c) evaluate marine sediment-monitoring protocols for coral reef areas. This report is divided into three parts, addressing each of these aims"--Introduction and Project Objectives."

Download or read book The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of The United States and Pacific Freely Associated States 2002 written by and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Encyclopedia of Modern Coral Reefs written by David Hopley and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2010-11-26 with total page 1226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral reefs are the largest landforms built by plants and animals. Their study therefore incorporates a wide range of disciplines. This encyclopedia approaches coral reefs from an earth science perspective, concentrating especially on modern reefs. Currently coral reefs are under high stress, most prominently from climate change with changes to water temperature, sea level and ocean acidification particularly damaging. Modern reefs have evolved through the massive environmental changes of the Quaternary with long periods of exposure during glacially lowered sea level periods and short periods of interglacial growth. The entries in this encyclopedia condense the large amount of work carried out since Charles Darwin first attempted to understand reef evolution. Leading authorities from many countries have contributed to the entries covering areas of geology, geography and ecology, providing comprehensive access to the most up-to-date research on the structure, form and processes operating on Quaternary coral reefs.

Download or read book Dredging and Port Construction Around Coral Reefs written by and published by PIANC. This book was released on 2010 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Ecology and Oceanography of the Coral reef Tract Abaco Island Bahamas written by John Frederick Storr and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Coral Reef Sediment Dissolution in a Changing Ocean written by Laura Stoltenberg and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Calcium carbonate sediments form an essential part of coral reefs yet have often been overlooked when studying the effects of future ocean acidification (OA). This original field-based research aims to assess the temporal variability of organic and inorganic sediment metabolism under ambient and elevated pCO2. OA caused a shift from net precipitation to net dissolution, but the sensitivity to OA varied seasonally, depending on interactions with temperature and benthic productivity. A slack-water approach of net ecosystem calcification revealed that sediments can play an important role in carbonate budgets, particularly at night, and become increasingly important as the oceans continue acidifying.

Download or read book Factors Affecting Terrigenous Sedimentation in Coastal Bays with Coral Reefs written by Whitney Taylor Sears and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 207 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the Caribbean, sedimentation has been identified as a serious threat to coral reef communities. Although land-based sediment delivery to coastal waters harboring coral reefs occurs under natural conditions, human activities in the watersheds above reefs increases the erosion and delivery of terrigenous sediment to the reefs. Delivery of terrigenous sediment into marine areas below developed watersheds affects sedimentation rates, alters the composition and texture of sediments that are suspended in the water column, and/or sediments that are deposited on the sea floor and on corals. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands is an ideal location to study the effects of rainfall and human development on sedimentation on coral reefs. From a management perspective, there is a need on St. John for studies that examine how watershed development and watershed restoration activities affect marine sedimentation. The outcomes of this study have shown that sediment traps are an effective way to monitor general temporal and spatial patterns in terrigenous sedimentation. This study is the first marine sediment trap study to capture the natural variability in storms, rainfall, and wave activity over a study period longer than two years that also monitored distinct near shore and offshore areas below both developed and minimally developed watersheds simultaneously. Monitoring simultaneously across distinct areas over a long, 5-year study period made it possible to examine the relationship between terrigenous sedimentation, rainfall and wave activity statistically, and identify areas most likely to be subjected to the greatest sediment-related coral stress. The results of this study have generated potentially useful data related to watershed land management in tropical, coastal areas and will help inform future studies that will assess the effect of watershed restoration efforts on terrigenous sediment delivery to marine areas harboring coral reefs.

Download or read book Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs V4 written by O.A. Jones and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2012-12-02 with total page 358 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs, Volume IV: Geology 2 covers the major advances made in the geological aspects of coral reef problems. This book is composed of 10 chapters that summarize the types, economics, radiometric dating, and geological features of coral reefs. The introductory chapters present the types and distribution of coral reefs, such as fringing, barrier, and Atoll reefs. A chapter discusses the findings of the 1973 Royal Society and Queensland Universities Expedition to the northern part of the Great Barrier Reefs on the specialized Low Wooded Islands. Another chapter deals with the interrelation of ecology and sedimentation in coral reef complexes and the Coral Sea Plateau. The next part of the book discusses the techniques and results of radiometric dating of coral reefs and the coral reefs of the Solomon Islands. The remaining chapters deal with the Great Barrier Reef Province and discuss the geology of the basement upon which the reefs rest is included. The reefs are described from geological, geophysical, and hydrological viewpoints, providing a complete bibliography on the reefs. This volume will acquaint readers with some of the exciting developments in coral reef geology and will provide information that will enable them to assess the status of research in different fields.

Download or read book Coral Reefs of the USA written by Bernhard M. Riegl and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-03-21 with total page 811 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral Reefs of the USA provides a complete overview of the present status of knowledge regarding all coral reef areas within the USA and its territories. It is written by the most experienced authorities in their fields and geographic areas. Stretching from the Caribbean to the western Pacific, the coral reefs of the USA span extensive geographic and biotic diversity, occur in a wide variety of geomorphological settings, and provide a representative cross-section of Holocene reef-building. This book will therefore be of broad general interest. For the first time, complete scholarly reviews are given for the geology, geomorphology and the biology of reefs encompassing a vast area stretching from the Mariana Islands in the west, Samoa in the south, Hawaii in the north and the Virgin Islands in the east. This book is not a status report, but will provide up-to-date information about stressors and the biotic responses of the reefs, as well as the geological explanations why these reefs exist in the first place. It will be an invaluable baseline-reference for all those who are engaged in research or management of these coral reefs or to those who simply enjoy being well-informed about one of the most iconic ecosystems of the USA.

Download or read book Coral Reef Remote Sensing written by James A. Goodman and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-04-18 with total page 446 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Remote sensing stands as the defining technology in our ability to monitor coral reefs, as well as their biophysical properties and associated processes, at regional to global scales. With overwhelming evidence that much of Earth’s reefs are in decline, our need for large-scale, repeatable assessments of reefs has never been so great. Fortunately, the last two decades have seen a rapid expansion in the ability for remote sensing to map and monitor the coral reef ecosystem, its overlying water column, and surrounding environment. Remote sensing is now a fundamental tool for the mapping, monitoring and management of coral reef ecosystems. Remote sensing offers repeatable, quantitative assessments of habitat and environmental characteristics over spatially extensive areas. As the multi-disciplinary field of coral reef remote sensing continues to mature, results demonstrate that the techniques and capabilities continue to improve. New developments allow reef assessments and mapping to be performed with higher accuracy, across greater spatial areas, and with greater temporal frequency. The increased level of information that remote sensing now makes available also allows more complex scientific questions to be addressed. As defined for this book, remote sensing includes the vast array of geospatial data collected from land, water, ship, airborne and satellite platforms. The book is organized by technology, including: visible and infrared sensing using photographic, multispectral and hyperspectral instruments; active sensing using light detection and ranging (LiDAR); acoustic sensing using ship, autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and in-water platforms; and thermal and radar instruments. Emphasis and Audience This book serves multiple roles. It offers an overview of the current state-of-the-art technologies for reef mapping, provides detailed technical information for coral reef remote sensing specialists, imparts insight on the scientific questions that can be tackled using this technology, and also includes a foundation for those new to reef remote sensing. The individual sections of the book include introductory overviews of four main types of remotely sensed data used to study coral reefs, followed by specific examples demonstrating practical applications of the different technologies being discussed. Guidelines for selecting the most appropriate sensor for particular applications are provided, including an overview of how to utilize remote sensing data as an effective tool in science and management. The text is richly illustrated with examples of each sensing technology applied to a range of scientific, monitoring and management questions in reefs around the world. As such, the book is broadly accessible to a general audience, as well as students, managers, remote sensing specialists and anyone else working with coral reef ecosystems.

Download or read book Coral Reefs An Ecosystem in Transition written by Zvy Dubinsky and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2010-12-02 with total page 541 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book covers in one volume materials scattered in hundreds of research articles, in most cases focusing on specialized aspects of coral biology. In addition to the latest developments in coral evolution and physiology, it presents chapters devoted to novel frontiers in coral reef research. These include the molecular biology of corals and their symbiotic algae, remote sensing of reef systems, ecology of coral disease spread, effects of various scenarios of global climate change, ocean acidification effects of increasing CO2 levels on coral calcification, and damaged coral reef remediation. Beyond extensive coverage of the above aspects, key issues regarding the coral organism and the reef ecosystem such as calcification, reproduction, modeling, algae, reef invertebrates, competition and fish are re-evaluated in the light of new research and emerging insights. In all chapters novel theories as well as challenges to established paradigms are introduced, evaluated and discussed. This volume is indispensible for all those involved in coral reef management and conservation.

Download or read book Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs V2 written by O.A. Jones and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2012-12-02 with total page 503 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs, Volume II: Biology 1 discusses the major advances made in the biological aspects of coral reef problems. This book is organized into 12 chapters that cover the microbial aspects of coral reefs, the nutrition in corals, and diversity in coral reefs. The opening chapters describe the distribution and role of coral reef microorganisms, as well as the significance of bacterioplankton as a food source for the marine fauna of coral reefs. The following chapter discusses the occurrence of algae in coral reef, their competition with corals for space, and their role in reef construction. Other chapters deal with food and feeding mechanisms of corals, the role of marine antibiotics in coral reef ecology, and some chemical compounds isolated from coral reef organisms, providing evidence for marine pharmacologic activity in coral reef areas. The book also discusses some basic problems relating to the distribution and abundance of hermatypic corals on reefs. It then examines species diversity on coral reefs, variety of reef structure, and the important role of toxic materials produced by holothurians on the general ecology and physiology of coral reefs. The last chapters describe the development, feeding, and behavior of the larval stages of several coral reef asteroids. Particular emphasis is given to the larval and post-larval stages of the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci. The starfish population explosions, the devastating effects on the hard coral cover of coral reefs, and causes and control of population explosions are also covered. This volume will acquaint readers with some of the exciting developments in coral reef biology and will provide information that will enable them to assess the status of research in different fields.

Download or read book Coral Reef Assessment written by Camille A. Daniels and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ABSTRACT: Resource managers need inexpensive bioindicators to evaluate the health of coral reef ecosystems and to inform decisions on when and where to utilize more expensive assessment techniques. Following USEPA Guidelines for Evaluating Ecological Indicators, I developed the SEDCON Index (SI), a rapid-assessment protocol whichutilizes reef sediment composition to assess the integrity of coral-reef communities. Keyadvantages of this index are that it entails non-destructive sampling and is applicable to reefs worldwide. The underlying assumption of the index is that community structure is reflected by proportions of recognizable remnants of calcareous shells and skeletal remains of mixotrophic (zooxanthellate corals and larger foraminifers), autotrophic (calcareous and coralline algae), and heterotrophic (e.g., bryozoans, molluscs, smaller foraminifers) benthic organisms, as well as unrecognizable debris as a proxy for bioerosion.

Download or read book Reef Diagenesis written by J.H. Schroeder and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 671 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 1 2 J. H. SCHROEDER and B. H. PURSER 1 Introduction A symposium convened during the Vth International Coral Reef Congress in Papeete, Tahiti, 1985, encouraged the editors to assemble this volume of case studies by participating and, especially, by nonparticipating scientists. An attempt was made to include case studies from various regions and geological periods, carried out on various scales from regional to ultrastructural. We hope to present an overall view of reef diagenesis. Although the volume focuses on reef diagenesis, fields also to be considered are biology, paleontology, and sedimentary facies distribution, as they provide the context and, to some extent, encompass the determinants of diagenetic processes. The scope has been limited to reef diagenesis because we feel that reefs have relatively clearly defined geometries, which facilitate the evaluation of diagenetic trends and the definition of diagenetic models. On the other hand, their many different components make reefs somewhat more complex than other deposits, and this creates difficulties in deciphering diagenetic histories; the study of reefs, therefore, is not the simplest manner of solving the many problems relating to carbonate diagenesis. An additional reason for evaluating reef diagenesis is the reservoir potential of these carbonate bodies. To illustrate the point, in the recent collection of 35 case studies of carbonate reservoirs (Roehl and Choquette 1985), reefs were involved in 15. The emphasis on porosity development in many studies of the present volume is therefore not of mere academic interest.

Download or read book Geological Approaches to Coral Reef Ecology written by Richard B. Aronson and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-03-09 with total page 457 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a unique perspective on the destruction - both natural and human-caused - of coral reef ecosystems. Reconstructing the ecological history of coral reefs, the authors evaluate whether recent dramatic changes are novel events or part of a long-term trend or cycle. The text combines principles of geophysics, paleontology, and marine sciences with real-time observation, examining the interacting causes of change: hurricane damage, predators, disease, rising sea-level, nutrient loading, global warming and ocean acidification. Predictions about the future of coral reefs inspire strategies for restoration and management of ecosystems. Useful for students and professionals in ecology and marine biology, including environmental managers.