Download or read book Coral Biomineralization Climate Proxies and the Sensitivity of Coral Reefs to CO2 driven Climate Change written by Thomas Mario DeCarlo and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scleractinian corals extract calcium (Ca2+) and carbonate (CO2−3) ions from seawater to construct their calcium carbonate (CaCO3) skeletons. Key to the coral biomineralization process is the active elevation of the CO2−3 concentration of the calcifying fluid to achieve rapid nucleation and growth of CaCO3 crystals. Coral skeletons contain valuable records of past climate variability and contribute to the formation of coral reefs. However, limitations in our understanding of coral biomineralization hinder the accuracy of (1) coral-based reconstructions of past climate, and (2) predictions of coral reef futures as anthropogenic CO2 emissions drive declines in seawater CO2−3 concentration. In this thesis, I investigate the mechanism of coral biomineralization and evaluate the sensitivity of coral reef CaCO3 production to seawater carbonate chemistry. First, I conducted abiogenic CaCO3 precipitation experiments that identified the U/Ca ratio as a proxy for fluid CO2−3 concentration. Based on these experimental results, I developed a quantitative coral biomineralization model that predicts temperature can be reconstructed from coral skeletons by combining Sr/Ca - which is sensitive to both temperature and CO2−3 - with U/Ca into a new proxy called “Sr-U”. I tested this prediction with 14 corals from the Pacific Ocean and the Red Sea spanning mean annual temperatures of 25.7-30.1°C and found that Sr-U has uncertainty of only 0.5°C, twice as accurate as conventional coral-based thermometers. Second, I investigated the processes that differentiate reef-water and open-ocean carbonate chemistry, and the sensitivity of ecosystem-scale calcification to these changes. On Dongsha Atoll in the northern South China Sea, metabolic activity of resident organisms elevates reef-water CO2−3 twice as high as the surrounding open ocean, driving rates of ecosystem calcification higher than any other coral reef studied to date. When high temperatures stressed the resident coral community, metabolic activity slowed, with dramatic effects on reef-water chemistry and ecosystem calcification. Overall, my thesis highlights how the modulation of CO2−3, by benthic communities on the reef and individual coral polyps in the colony, controls the sensitivity of coral reefs to future ocean acidification and influences the climate records contained in the skeleton.
Download or read book Coral Biomineralization Climate Proxies and the Sensitivity of Coral Reefs to CO2 driven Climate written by Thomas Mario DeCarlo and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scleractinian corals extract calcium (Ca2+) and carbonate (CO32−) ions from seawater to construct their calcium carbonate (CaCO3) skeletons. Key to the coral biomineralization process is the active elevation of the CO32− concentration of the calcifying fluid to achieve rapid nucleation and growth of CaCO3 crystals. Coral skeletons contain valuable records of past climate variability and contribute to the formation of coral reefs. However, limitations in our understanding of coral biomineralization hinder the accuracy of (1) coral-based reconstructions of past climate, and (2) predictions of coral reef futures as anthropogenic CO2 emissions drive declines in seawater CO32− concentration. In this thesis, I investigate the mechanism of coral biomineralization and evaluate the sensitivity of coral reef CaCO3 production to seawater carbonate chemistry. First, I conducted abiogenic CaCO32− precipitation experiments that identified the U/Ca ratio as a proxy for fluid CO32− concentration. Based on these experimental results, I developed a quantitative coral biomineralization model that predicts temperature can be reconstructed from coral skeletons by combining Sr/Ca - which is sensitive to both temperature and CO32− - with U/Ca into a new proxy called "Sr-U". I tested this prediction with 14 corals from the Pacific Ocean and the Red Sea spanning mean annual temperatures of 25.7-30.1 °C and found that Sr-U has uncertainty of only 0.5 °C, twice as accurate as conventional coral-based thermometers. Second, I investigated the processes that differentiate reef-water and open-ocean carbonate chemistry, and the sensitivity of ecosystem-scale calcification to these changes. On Dongsha Atoll in the northern South China Sea, metabolic activity of resident organisms elevates reef-water CO32− twice as high as the surrounding open ocean, driving rates of ecosystem calcification higher than any other coral reef studied to date. When high temperatures stressed the resident coral community, metabolic activity slowed, with dramatic effects on reef-water chemistry and ecosystem calcification. Overall, my thesis highlights how the modulation of CO32−, by benthic communities on the reef and individual coral polyps in the colony, controls the sensitivity of coral reefs to future ocean acidification and influences the climate records contained in the skeleton.
Download or read book Coral Reefs and Climate Change written by Jonathan Turnbull Phinney and published by American Geophysical Union. This book was released on 2006-01-10 with total page 251 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Coastal and Estuarine Studies, Volume 61. The effects of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and related climate change on shallow coral reefs are gaining considerable attention for scientific and economic reasons worldwide. Although increased scientific research has improved our understanding of the response of coral reefs to climate change, we still lack key information that can help guide reef management. Research and monitoring of coral reef ecosystems over the past few decades have documented two major threats related to increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2: (1) increased sea surface temperatures and (2) increased seawater acidity (lower pH). Higher atmospheric CO2 levels have resulted in rising sea surface temperatures and proven to be an acute threat to corals and other reef-dwelling organisms. Short periods (days) of elevated sea surface temperatures by as little as 1–2°C above the normal maximum temperature has led to more frequent and more widespread episodes of coral bleaching-the expulsion of symbiotic algae. A more chronic consequence of increasing atmospheric CO2 is the lowering of pH of surface waters, which affects the rate at which corals and other reef organisms secrete and build their calcium carbonate skeletons. Average pH of the surface ocean has already decreased by an estimated 0.1 unit since preindustrial times, and will continue to decline in concert with rising atmospheric CO2. These climate-related Stressors combined with other direct anthropogenic assaults, such as overfishing and pollution, weaken reef organisms and increase their susceptibility to disease.
Download or read book Global Climate Change and Coral Reefs written by Clive R. Wilkinson and published by IUCN. This book was released on 1994 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A global overview of the potential impacts of climate change and sea level rise on coral reefs, and of the implications of such impacts for ecological sustainable use of coral reefs. Includes information on the status and trends of reef conservation and use around the world, and suggestions for management of reefs in a changing world.
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 Climate Carbon and Coral Reefs written by and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This brochure illustrates some of the linkages among climate, carbon dioxide and coral reefs, while describing the necessary steps to appropriately assess the threats at the local and regional scales, as well as to devise suitable monitoring, conservation and mitigation strategies."--Provided by publisher.
Download or read book Coral Reefs in the Anthropocene Ocean written by Nathaniel Rust Mollica and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are driving rapid changes in ocean conditions. Shallow-water coral reefs are experiencing the brunt of these changes, including intensifying marine heatwaves (MHWs) and rapid ocean acidification (OA). Consequently, coral reefs are in broad-scale decline, threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people. Ensuring survival of coral reefs in the 21st century will thus require a new management approach that incorporates robust understanding of reef-scale climate change, the mechanisms by which these changes impact corals, and their potential for adaptation. In this thesis, I extract information from within coral skeletons to 1) Quantify the climate changes occurring on coral reefs and the effects on coral growth, 2) Identify differences in the sensitivity of coral reefs to these changes, and 3) Evaluate the adaptation potential of the keystone reef-building coral, Porites. First, I develop a mechanistic Porites growth model and reveal the physicochemical link between OA and skeletal formation. I show that the thickening (densification) of coral skeletal framework is most vulnerable to OA and that, under 21st century climate model projections, OA will reduce Porites skeletal density globally, with greatest impact in the Coral Triangle. Second, I develop an improved metric of thermal stress, and use a skeletal bleaching proxy to quantify coral responses to intensifying heatwaves in the central equatorial Pacific (CEP) since 1982. My work reveals a long history of bleaching in the CEP, and reef-specific differences in thermal tolerance linked to past heatwave exposure implying that, over time, reef communities have adapted to tolerate their unique thermal regimes. Third, I refine the Sr-U paleo-thermometer to enable monthly-resolved sea surface temperatures (SST) generation using laser ablation ICPMS. I show that laser Sr-U accurately captures CEP SST, including the frequency and amplitude of MHWs. Finally, I apply laser Sr-U to reconstruct the past 100 years of SST at Jarvis Island in the CEP, and evaluate my proxy record of bleaching severity in this context. I determine that Porites coral populations on Jarvis Island have not yet adapted to the pace of anthropogenic climate change.
Download or read book A Research Review of Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2019-05-05 with total page 259 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral reef declines have been recorded for all major tropical ocean basins since the 1980s, averaging approximately 30-50% reductions in reef cover globally. These losses are a result of numerous problems, including habitat destruction, pollution, overfishing, disease, and climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions and the associated increases in ocean temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have been implicated in increased reports of coral bleaching, disease outbreaks, and ocean acidification (OA). For the hundreds of millions of people who depend on reefs for food or livelihoods, the thousands of communities that depend on reefs for wave protection, the people whose cultural practices are tied to reef resources, and the many economies that depend on reefs for fisheries or tourism, the health and maintenance of this major global ecosystem is crucial. A growing body of research on coral physiology, ecology, molecular biology, and responses to stress has revealed potential tools to increase coral resilience. Some of this knowledge is poised to provide practical interventions in the short-term, whereas other discoveries are poised to facilitate research that may later open the doors to additional interventions. A Research Review of Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs reviews the state of science on genetic, ecological, and environmental interventions meant to enhance the persistence and resilience of coral reefs. The complex nature of corals and their associated microbiome lends itself to a wide range of possible approaches. This first report provides a summary of currently available information on the range of interventions present in the scientific literature and provides a basis for the forthcoming final report.
Download or read book The Future of Coral Reefs Subject to Rapid Climate Change Lessons from Natural Extreme Environments written by Emma F. Camp and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2019-01-22 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Examination of corals and reef-associated organisms which endure in extreme coral reef environments is challenging our understanding of the conditions that organisms can survive under. By studying individuals naturally adapted to unfavorable conditions, we begin to better understand the important traits required to survive rapid environmental and climate change. This Research Topic, comprising reviews, and original research articles, demonstrates the current state of knowledge regarding the diversity of extreme coral habitats, the species that have been studied, and the knowledge to-date on the mechanisms, traits and trade-offs that have facilitated survival.
Download or read book Climate Change Coral Reefs on Edge written by and published by . This book was released on with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In clear and direct language, Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, one of the world's leading coral biologists, presents his scientific findings that document how C02 emissions are pushing the world's coral reefs to the brink of extinction. Coral reefs are the largest living structures on earth, home to 25% of all marine species, and a primary source of food and income for over 500 million people. Coral reefs are a sensitive and vital indicator of the negative impact climate change is having on the world's oceans.. In the video, Prof. Hoegh-Guldberg shows how increased CO2 emissions have led to warming of the seas and ocean acidification, both of which have already caused the death of many coral reefs and may cause their mass extinction in the next few decades. He warns that current efforts to curb C02 emissions are falling well short of what's needed to protect coral reefs. He concludes that we need to view the problem as a global one requiring rapid and decisive action by the world's leaders to greatly reduce carbon emissions. His presentation is illustrated with stunning high definition footage from the collection of renowned underwater cinematographer David Hannan, as well as with Prof. Hoegh-Guldberg's own charts and graphs.. The presentation covers:. . The Importance of Coral Reefs Climate Change and Coral Bleaching. Ocean Acidification. How Much CO2 is Too Much For Coral Reefs?. Conclusion: What Do We Do About It?
Download or read book Climate Chronicles written by Robert van Woesik and published by . This book was released on 2024-08-07 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Climate Chronicles: Insights from the Data-Driven Evolution of Coral Reefs offers an essential collection of scientific journal articles that unravel the complex interactions between climate change and coral reef ecosystems. With a foreword that sets the stage for an in-depth analysis, this compilation examines various aspects of coral reefs from the Federated States of Micronesia to Singapore. Key topics include the impacts of thermal anomalies and ocean acidification, the resilience and recovery potential of remote reefs, and the role of urban environments in reef health. Articles delve into the effects of rising sea levels, the destructive habits of the Acanthaster sea star, and the crucial function of overlooked species like sea urchins. Readers will find comprehensive studies on the chemical decoupling affecting calcification, remote reef recovery rates, and predictive models of future reef dynamics. This book serves as a crucial resource for understanding the multi-faceted challenges facing coral reefs and highlights the urgent need for informed intervention to protect these vital marine ecosystems. With insights from global regions such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Red Sea, and the Bahamian Islands, 'Climate Chronicles' is a critical reference for researchers, policymakers, and environmental advocates dedicated to the preservation of our oceans' precious coral reefs. Quality Research Publishing is dedicated to making knowledge more accessible to the general public by curating a topical compilation of the latest research on various subjects and providing plain language summaries. Each of the articles in this book is available individually and digitally without cost. However, we believe it is important for the contextualizing and sharing of educational and scientific work to curate this research in a way that is understandable and helpful to the average person seeking deeper knowledge of a particular subject. The research articles compiled for this book were published under a permissive Creative Commons license, are in the public domain, or have no copyright restrictions, permitting their use in this book. If you have questions about the licensing of any article, please visit qualityresearchpublishing.com.
Download or read book Coral Reef Resilience written by Loke Ming Chou and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2021-06-02 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Are coral reefs sufficiently resilient to withstand the changing environmental conditions of the future? Research is necessary to gain a better understanding of how reefs will respond and how resilient they are. Various approaches to characterize and analyze reef responses from the molecular to community and habitat levels are all essential. Trends could be analyzed from spatially extensive and/or long-term monitoring data and applied to novel management strategies. Reef resilience research continues to remain relevant and important to the future of coral reefs. The contributions in this volume provide a further dimension to the understanding of reef resilience.
Download or read book Scientific Framework for Evaluating Coral Reef Resilience to Climate Change written by Hannah Catherine Barkley and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Coral Reefs Global Climate Change written by Robert W. Buddemeier and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
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.
Download or read book A Decision Framework for Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2019-09-29 with total page 213 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral reefs are critical to ocean and human life because they provide food, living area, storm protection, tourism income, and more. However, human-induced stressors, such as overfishing, sediment, pollution, and habitat destruction have threatened ocean ecosystems globally for decades. In the face of climate change, these ecosystems now face an array of unfamiliar challenges due to destructive rises in ocean temperature, acidity and sea level. These factors lead to an increased frequency of bleaching events, hindered growth, and a decreasing rate of calcification. Research on interventions to combat these relatively new stressors and a reevaluation of longstanding interventions is necessary to understand and protect coral reefs in this changing climate. Previous research on these methods prompts further questions regarding the decision making process for site-specific interventions. A Decision Framework for Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs builds upon a previous report that reviews the state of research on methods that have been used, tested, or proposed to increase the resilience of coral reefs. This new report aims to help coral managers evaluate the specific needs of their site and navigate the 23 different interventions described in the previous report. A case study of the Caribbean, a region with low coral population plagued by disease, serves as an example for coral intervention decision making. This report provides complex coral management decision making tools, identifies gaps in coral biology and conservation research, and provides examples to help individuals and communities tailor a decision strategy to a local area.
Download or read book CO2 Global Warming and Coral Reefs written by Craig Douglas Idso and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 103 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
