Files and links (1)
Data from: From temporal variability to integrated metabolic balance: Interpreting total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon relationships in dynamic coral reef ecosystems
Open CC0 V1.0
Dataset
Data from: Re-evaluating relationships between calcification and production in dynamic coral reef ecosystems
Dryad
12/05/2026
Metrics
1 Record Views
Abstract
Linear regressions between total alkalinity (TA) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) are widely used to infer the balance between net ecosystem calcification (NEC) and net ecosystem production (NEP) in coral reefs. Using high-frequency carbonate chemistry observations from an Australian reef flat and simple numerical models, we show that TA–DIC slopes primarily reflect the temporal co-variability of NEC and NEP, rather than their time-integrated metabolic balance. To recover time-integrated metabolic information, diel reef measurements must be coupled with offshore reference conditions, which anchor changes in TA and DIC to NEC:NEP ratios. We further demonstrate that metabolic balance shifts systematically over the diel cycle and depends on light, indicating that it is inherently dynamic rather than static. Together, our results highlight the need to distinguish metabolic co-variability from metabolic ratios when interpreting carbonate chemistry data in coral reef and other dynamic aquatic ecosystems.
Details
- Title
- Data from: Re-evaluating relationships between calcification and production in dynamic coral reef ecosystems
- Creators
- Tyler Cyronak - Georgia Southern UniversityYuichiro Takeshita - Monterey Bay Aquarium Research InstituteRebecca Albright - California Academy of SciencesKen Caldeira - Carnegie Institution for ScienceBradley Eyre - Southern Cross UniversityAlyssa Griffin - University of California, DavisDavid Koweek - Carnegie Institution for ScienceJennifer Mallon - Nova Southeastern UniversityManoela Romano - Carnegie Institution for ScienceKai Schulz - Southern Cross UniversityKennedy Wolfe - University of Queensland
- Publisher
- Dryad
- Grant note
- IRES Track II: Systems-based transdisciplinary approaches to coral reef science and conservation - 2328190 / Office of International Science and Engineering (https://ror.org/01k638r21) Yulgilbar Foundation DP220101263 / Australian Research Council (https://ror.org/05mmh0f86) DP150102092 / Australian Research Council (https://ror.org/05mmh0f86)
- Identifiers
- 991013376402502368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dataset