Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Carbonate and terrigenous sediment budgets for inshore turbid reefs on the central Great Barrier Reef

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Browne, Nicola
    Smithers, S
    Perry, C
    Date
    2013
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Browne, N and Smithers, S and Perry, C. 2013. Carbonate and terrigenous sediment budgets for inshore turbid reefs on the central Great Barrier Reef. Marine Geology. 346: pp. 101-123.
    Source Title
    Marine Geology
    DOI
    10.1016/j.margeo.2013.08.011
    ISSN
    00253227
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/45321
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Inshore turbid zone reefs on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) occur within 20 km of the mainland coast under marine environmental conditions (with respect to sedimentation rates, turbidity and water quality) that are generally considered marginal for reef growth. Despite this, data from various benthic habitat assessments report high (N30%) coral cover in these environments and reef core records show them to be characterised by relatively rapid rates of vertical accretion (2–8 mm/year), a long-term trend indicative of high net carbonate productivity and in-situ carbonate framework accumulation. However, the lack of quantitative data on terrigenous sediment input and flux rates, and on carbonate production rates has inhibited understanding of both ecological timescale rates of carbonate production and the aggregated long-term net impacts of sediments on reef growth. To address this knowledge gap a modern carbonate budget and terrigenous sediment model, that quantified allochthonous sediment inputs onto, within and off reef, was developed at two inshore reefs: Middle Reef and Paluma Shoals. Both are located within the central region of the GBR and are subjected to high terrigenous sediment load (N11,000 tonnes/year) and fluctuating turbidity (5 to N100 mg/L) regimes.Based on sediment dynamic modelling, over 81% of sediments delivered were transported off reef, with net sediment accumulation limited to sheltered reef habitats. Net carbonate production was high (N6.9 kg/m2/year) due to high coral cover (N30%), high coral calcification rates (Acropora average 6.3 g/cm2/year), and low bioerosion rates (0.3 to 5 kg/m2/year), but varied spatially with highest net carbonate production (N10 kg/m2/year) within deep (N-2 m at LAT) windward reef zones. High carbonate framework production has enabled Middle Reef and Paluma Shoals to vertically accrete rapidly: Middle Reef establishing at depths of ~4 m, Paluma Shoals at ~3 m depth and both reaching sea level in b1200 years. Carbonate and terrigenous sediment inputs were used to develop a reef growth model with time and depth that illustrates how rates and modes of reef growth varied temporally as the reefs approached sea level. Both Middle Reef and Paluma Shoals are still actively accreting, although vertical reef growth potential is increasingly constrained as the reef flats infill at present sea level.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Coral reefs of the turbid inner-shelf of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: An environmental and geomorphic perspective on their occurrence, composition and growth
      Browne, Nicola; Smithers, S.; Perry, C. (2012)
      Investigations of the geomorphic and sedimentary context in which turbid zone reefs exist, both in the modern and fossil reef record, can inform key ecological debates regarding species tolerances and adaptability to ...
    • Evidence of very rapid reef accretion and reef growth under high turbidity and terrigenous sedimentation
      Perry, C.; Smithers, S.; Gulliver, P.; Browne, Nicola (2012)
      Global-scale deteriorations in coral reef health are projected to lead to a progressive declinein reef-building potential and ultimately to states of net reef erosion. These transitions may bedriven by various human ...
    • A Field-Based Technique for Measuring Sediment Flux on Coral Reefs: Application to Turbid Reefs on the Great Barrier Reef
      Browne, Nicola; Smithers, S.; Perry, C.; Ridd, P. (2012)
      Inshore turbid reefs on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) are exposed to high and fluctuating sediment loads normally associated with poor reef growth, but many have high coral cover >30%) and diversity >50 species). Previous ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.