Conference proceeding
Coral reef sediment dissolution; insights from chamber incubations around the globe
Ocean Sciences Meeting, Vol.2016
2016 ocean sciences meeting (New Orleans, Louisiana , 21/02/2016 - 26/02/2016)
02/2016
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Abstract
Ocean acidification (OA) is expected to negatively affect the calcium carbonate (CaCO (sub 3) ) budget of coral reefs by decreasing calcification and increasing CaCO (sub 3) dissolution rates. Sediments represent the largest reservoir of CaCO (sub 3) in coral reefs and form important habitats above and below the hide tide mark. Results from in situ benthic incubations at different coral reef locations around the world (Australia, Tahiti, Bermuda, Cook Islands, and Hawaii) reveal that there is a general trend between bulk seawater aragonite saturation state (Omega (sub ar) ) and net CaCO (sub 3) sediment dissolution rates. Experimental incubations also indicate that the ratio of production to respiration (P/R) in the sediments plays a significant role in CaCO (sub 3) dissolution, with high P/R ratios potentially offsetting the effects of human induced OA. This is most likely due to benthic microalgae photosynthesizing and consuming CO (sub 2) , which produces conditions more favourable for CaCO (sub 3) precipitation in sediment pore waters. Despite any interactions with benthic organic metabolism, sediment dissolution could be an order of magnitude more sensitive to OA compared to the process of biogenic calcification. Increases in CaCO (sub 3) sediment dissolution under predicted CO (sub 2) emissions could shift the net ecosystem calcification (NEC) of coral reefs from net CaCO (sub 3) precipitating to net dissolving by the end of this century.
Details
- Title
- Coral reef sediment dissolution; insights from chamber incubations around the globe
- Creators
- Tyler Cyronak - Scripps Institution of OceanographyAndreas J AnderssonBradley EyreAnonymous
- Publication Details
- Ocean Sciences Meeting, Vol.2016
- Conference
- 2016 ocean sciences meeting (New Orleans, Louisiana , 21/02/2016 - 26/02/2016)
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Identifiers
- 991012978867302368
- Academic Unit
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry; Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding