Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-467
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-467
28 Jun 2022
 | 28 Jun 2022

Production and accumulation of reef framework by calcifying corals and macroalgae on a remote Indian Ocean Cay

M. James McLaughlin, Cindy Bessey, Gary A. Kendrick, John Keesing, and Ylva S. Olsen

Abstract. Coral reefs face increasing pressures in response to unprecedented rates of environmental change at present. The coral reef physical framework is formed through the production of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and maintained by marine organisms, primarily hermatypic corals, crustose coralline algae (CCA), and other calcifying algae. The Kimberley bioregion, located in the northern part of Western Australia, has largely escaped land-based anthropogenic impacts and this study provides important metabolic data we are lacking on reef-building calcifying corals and macrophytes from an undisturbed set of marine habitats. Specimens of the dominant coral and algal taxa were collected from the reef platform of Browse Island located on the mid-shelf just inside the 200 m isobath off the Kimberley coast. During experimental light/dark incubations, all algae were net autotrophic producing 6–111 mmol O2 m−2 day−1. In contrast, most corals were net consumers of O2 with average net fluxes ranging from −42 to 47 mmol O2 m−2 day−1. The net change in pH was generally negative for corals and calcifying algae (−0.01 to −0.08 h−1). Corals, Halimeda (a calcifying green algae) and Galaxaura (a calcifying red algae) had positive calcification rates in light ranging from 4.2 to 18.4 g CaCO3 m−2 d−1. Resulting net calcification rates were all positive and ranged from 1.9 to 9.9 g CaCO3 m−2 d−1 and were strongly correlated to net O2 production. In intertidal habitats around Browse Island, estimated relative contributions of coral and Halimeda to the reef production of CaCO3 were similar at around 600–840 g m−2 year−1. The low reef platform had very low coral cover of < 3 % which made a smaller contribution to calcification of ~240 g CaCO3 m−2 year−1. Calcification on the subtidal reef slope was predominantly from corals, producing ~1540 g CaCO3 m−2 year−1, twice that of Halimeda. The relative contributions of the main reef builders, in these undisturbed areas, to net community metabolism and CaCO3 production and reef metabolism is important to understand exclusively climate-driven coral bleaching and mortality.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

15 Mar 2023
Production and accumulation of reef framework by calcifying corals and macroalgae on a remote Indian Ocean cay
M. James McLaughlin, Cindy Bessey, Gary A. Kendrick, John Keesing, and Ylva S. Olsen
Biogeosciences, 20, 1011–1026, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1011-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1011-2023, 2023
Short summary

M. James McLaughlin et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-467', Anonymous Referee #1, 18 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', James Mclaughlin, 28 Nov 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-467', Anonymous Referee #2, 26 Jul 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', James Mclaughlin, 28 Nov 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-467', Anonymous Referee #1, 18 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', James Mclaughlin, 28 Nov 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-467', Anonymous Referee #2, 26 Jul 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', James Mclaughlin, 28 Nov 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (29 Nov 2022) by Tyler Cyronak
AR by James Mclaughlin on behalf of the Authors (30 Nov 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (06 Dec 2022) by Tyler Cyronak
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (12 Dec 2022)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (20 Jan 2023) by Tyler Cyronak
AR by James Mclaughlin on behalf of the Authors (02 Feb 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (17 Feb 2023) by Tyler Cyronak
AR by James Mclaughlin on behalf of the Authors (20 Feb 2023)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

15 Mar 2023
Production and accumulation of reef framework by calcifying corals and macroalgae on a remote Indian Ocean cay
M. James McLaughlin, Cindy Bessey, Gary A. Kendrick, John Keesing, and Ylva S. Olsen
Biogeosciences, 20, 1011–1026, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1011-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1011-2023, 2023
Short summary

M. James McLaughlin et al.

M. James McLaughlin et al.

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Coral reefs face increasing pressures from environmental change at present. The coral reef physical framework is formed through the production of calcium carbonate by corals, crustose coralline algae (CCA), and other calcifying algae. The Kimberley bioregion, located in the northern part of Western Australia, has largely escaped land-based anthropogenic impacts and this study provides important data on reef building processes we are lacking from an undisturbed set of marine habitats.