Evidence of very rapid reef accretion and reef growth under high turbidity and terrigenous sedimentation

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 2012 Evidence of very rapid reef accretion and reef growth under high turbidity and terrigenous sedimentation C.T. Perry; C.T. Perry * 1Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK *E-mail: c.perry@exeter.ac.uk. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S.G. Smithers; S.G. Smithers 2School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P. Gulliver; P. Gulliver 3NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, Rankin Avenue, East Kilbride, Scotland G75 0QF, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar N.K. Browne N.K. Browne 2School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia4DHI Water & Environment (S) Pte Ltd, 200 Pandan Loop, #08-03 Pantech 21, 128388 Singapore Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information C.T. Perry * 1Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK S.G. Smithers 2School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia P. Gulliver 3NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, Rankin Avenue, East Kilbride, Scotland G75 0QF, UK N.K. Browne 2School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia4DHI Water & Environment (S) Pte Ltd, 200 Pandan Loop, #08-03 Pantech 21, 128388 Singapore *E-mail: c.perry@exeter.ac.uk. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 31 Jan 2012 Revision Received: 28 Feb 2012 Accepted: 02 Mar 2012 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2012 Geological Society of America Geology (2012) 40 (8): 719–722. https://doi.org/10.1130/G33261.1 Article history Received: 31 Jan 2012 Revision Received: 28 Feb 2012 Accepted: 02 Mar 2012 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation C.T. Perry, S.G. Smithers, P. Gulliver, N.K. Browne; Evidence of very rapid reef accretion and reef growth under high turbidity and terrigenous sedimentation. Geology 2012;; 40 (8): 719–722. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G33261.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Global-scale deteriorations in coral reef health are projected to lead to a progressive decline in reef-building potential and ultimately to states of net reef erosion. These transitions may be driven by various human disturbances and by climate change; however, increased terrestrial sediment and nutrient yields from anthropogenically modified coastal catchments are widely recognized as a major threat. As water quality deteriorates, reduced coral cover and species diversity are commonly inferred, and lower reef accretion rates and impaired reef development are assumed consequences. Here we present a detailed chronostratigraphic growth history, constrained by 40 accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dates for Middle Reef, an inshore turbid-zone reef on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, that challenges the assumption that high terrestrial sediment inputs inherently restrict reef accretion rates and inhibit reef development. We establish that Middle Reef has vertically accreted very rapidly for more than 700 yr, at an average rate of 8.3 mm yr−1. Accretion rates varied across the reef at different times, but it is significant that the periods of most rapid accretion (averaging 13.0 mm yr−1) coincide with phases of reef development dominated by fine-grained terrigenoclastic sediment accumulation. We suggest that this is in large part a function of a high rate of terrigenous sediment accumulation aiding the postmortem preservation of coral skeletal material. Both maximum and site-averaged accretion rates match or exceed those documented for most clear-water, mid- and outer-shelf reefs in the region over the past 9000 yr, and those determined for many reefs throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans over the same period. While examples of inshore coral reefs that have been degraded in the short term by excessive terrestrial sedimentation clearly exist, others clearly tolerate high sedimentation and turbidity, and our data confirm that sustained and long-term rapid reef growth is possible in these environments. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.