Journal article
Comparing Chemistry and Census-Based Estimates of Net Ecosystem Calcification on a Rim Reef in Bermuda
Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol.3, 181
23/09/2016
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Abstract
Coral reef net ecosystem calcification (NEC) has decreased for many Caribbean reefs
over recent decades primarily due to changes in benthic community composition.
Chemistry-based approaches to calculate NEC utilize the drawdown of seawater total
alkalinity (TA) combined with residence time to calculate an instantaneous measurement
of NEC. Census-based approaches combine annual growth rates with benthic cover and
reef structural complexity to estimate NEC occurring over annual timescales. Here, NEC
was calculated for Hog Reef in Bermuda using both chemistry and census-based NEC
techniques to compare the mass-balance generated by the two methods and identify the
dominant biocalcifiers at Hog Reef. Our findings indicate close agreement between the
annual 2011 census-based NEC 2.35 ± 1.01 kg CaCO3•m−2 1 •y
− and chemistry-based
NEC 2.23 ± 1.02 kg CaCO3•m−2•y
−1 at Hog Reef. An additional record of Hog Reef
TA data calculated from an autonomous CO2 mooring measuring pCO2 and modeled
pHtotal every 3-h highlights the dynamic temporal variability in coral reef NEC. This ability
for chemistry-based NEC techniques to capture higher frequency variability in coral reef
NEC allows the mechanisms driving NEC variability to be explored and tested. Just
four coral species, Diploria labyrinthiformis, Pseudodiploria strigosa, Millepora alcicornis,
and Orbicella franksi, were identified by the census-based NEC as contributing to 94 ±
19% of the total calcium carbonate production at Hog Reef suggesting these species
should be highlighted for conservation to preserve current calcium carbonate production
rates at Hog Reef. As coral cover continues to decline globally, the agreement between
these NEC estimates suggest that either method, but ideally both methods, may serve
as a useful tool for coral reef managers and conservation scientists to monitor the
maintenance of coral reef structure and ecosystem services.
Details
- Title
- Comparing Chemistry and Census-Based Estimates of Net Ecosystem Calcification on a Rim Reef in Bermuda
- Creators
- Travis A Courtney - Geosciences Research Division [La Jolla]Andreas J Andersson - Geosciences Research Division [La Jolla]Nicholas R Bates - Bermuda Institute of Ocean SciencesAndrew Collins - Bermuda Institute of Ocean SciencesTyler Cyronak - Geosciences Research Division [La Jolla]Samantha J de Putron - Bermuda Institute of Ocean SciencesBradley D Eyre - Center for Coastal BiogeochemistryRebecca Garley - Bermuda Institute of Ocean SciencesEric J Hochberg - Bermuda Institute of Ocean SciencesRodney Johnson - Bermuda Institute of Ocean SciencesSylvia Musielewicz - Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and OceansTim J Noyes - Bermuda Institute of Ocean SciencesChristopher L Sabine - NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory [Seattle]Adrienne J Sutton - Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and OceansJessy Toncin - Biogéochimie-Traceurs-PaléoclimatAline Tribollet - Biogéochimie-Traceurs-Paléoclimat
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol.3, 181
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media
- Grants
- Dissolution of calcium carbonate in sediments in an acidifying ocean, DP150102092, Australian Research Council
- Identifiers
- 991012927089402368
- Copyright
- This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
- Academic Unit
- Science; Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry; Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article