Thesis
Short and long-term drivers of coral reef ecosystem metabolism
Southern Cross University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25918/thesis.138
Metrics
59 File views/ downloads
246 Record Views
Abstract
The ability for coral reefs to maintain their essential ecosystem services relies on the persistence of coral biota and the preservation of calcification. This thesis aims to determine the underlying drivers of local and global calcification and to predict long-term outlooks from current trends. Calcification is driven by light, temperature, calcifier cover, wave action, and seasonality. Locally, reefs are able to recover from stress events with no substantial subsequent stressors, but global coral ecosystems are experiencing significantly declining coral cover and calcification, corresponding with increasing organic productivity. Overall, this thesis demonstrates the ever-narrowing window of opportunity to address the overarching global and local issues causing coral ecosystem demise.
Details
- Title
- Short and long-term drivers of coral reef ecosystem metabolism
- Creators
- Kay L. Davis
- Contributors
- Isaac R Santos (Supervisor) - Southern Cross UniversityBrendan Kelaher (Supervisor) - Southern Cross University
- Awarding Institution
- Southern Cross University; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Theses
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
- Publisher
- Southern Cross University
- Number of pages
- 289
- Identifiers
- 991012935300502368
- Copyright
- © KL Davis 2021
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre; School of Environment, Science and Engineering
- Resource Type
- Thesis