Spatial resilience of the Great Barrier Reef under cumulative disturbance impacts

Mellin, Camille; Matthews, Samuel A.; Anthony, Kenneth R. N.; Brown, Stuart C.; Caley, M. Julian; Johns, Kerryn; Osborne, Kate; Puotinen, Marji; Thompson, Angus; Wolff, Nicholas H.; Fordham, Damien A.; MacNeil, M. Aaron

doi:10.1111/gcb.14625

Cited by 101 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 75 publications

(133 reference statements)

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“…The large seasonal difference in aerosol loading implies a temperature-or irradiance-dependent biological influence. Furthermore, Modini et al (2009) observed nucleation events at Agnes Water in the southern GBR, in which corals were concluded to be the most likely source of precursor compounds. These events occurred in clean, easterly air masses originating in the MBL, when solar irradiance at the sea surface was high (∼ 1000 W m −2 ).…”

Section: Influence On Particle Formation and Growthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This event occurred during a NNE wind, accumulating particles of marine origin from upwind coral reefs. The authors concluded that Aitken mode concentration was too low to have been derived from coagulation alone; thus new particles were largely derived from the condensation of low-volatility vapours such as DMS-derived H 2 SO 4 (Modini et al, 2009). Swan et al (2016) also measured high particle concentration over Heron Island in the southern GBR, which coincided with a peak in DMS emissions from the coral-reef flat during calm conditions after a low tide, again suggesting that the coral reef was a source of MBA precursor compounds.…”

Section: Influence On Particle Formation and Growthmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dimethylsulfide (DMS), marine biogenic aerosols and the ecophysiology of coral reefs

et al. 2020

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Abstract. Global climate change and the impacts of ocean warming, ocean acidification and declining water quality are adversely affecting coral-reef ecosystems. This is of great concern, as coral reefs provide numerous ecosystem, economic and social services. Corals are also recognised as being amongst the strongest individual sources of natural atmospheric sulfur, through stress-induced emissions of dimethylsulfide (DMS). In the clean marine boundary layer, biogenic sulfates contribute to new aerosol formation and the growth of existing particles, with important implications for the radiative balance over the ocean. Evidence suggests that DMS is not only directly involved in the coral stress response, alleviating oxidative stress, but also may create an “ocean thermostat” which suppresses sea surface temperature through changes to aerosol and cloud properties. This review provides a summary of the current major threats facing coral reefs and describes the role of dimethylated sulfur compounds in coral ecophysiology and the potential influence on climate. The role of coral reefs as a source of climatically important compounds is an emerging topic of research; however the window of opportunity to understand the complex biogeophysical processes involved is closing with ongoing degradation of the world's coral reefs. The greatest uncertainty in our estimates of radiative forcing and climate change is derived from natural aerosol sources, such as marine DMS, which constitute the largest flux of oceanic reduced sulfur to the atmosphere. Given the increasing frequency of coral bleaching events, it is crucial that we gain a better understanding of the role of DMS in local climate of coral reefs.

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Section: Influence On Particle Formation and Growthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Influence On Particle Formation and Growthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dimethylsulfide (DMS), marine biogenic aerosols and the ecophysiology of coral reefs

et al. 2020

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“…These impacts are compounded by enhanced sedimentation from riverine discharge and dredging, which cause benthic smothering, increased turbidity and reduced light penetration, all of which adversely affect photosynthesising organisms including coral zooxanthellae (Erftemeijer et al, 2012). Sea-level rise and changes to large-scale oceanic circulation in response to global warming is exacerbating coastal erosion and declining water quality and has caused an increase in storm surges which further degrade coral reefs (Mellin et al, 2019). Measurements of dissolved DMS/P have been found to decline along a gradient of relatively pristine to human-impacted coral reefs in the central GBR (Jones et al, 2007).…”

Section: Water Quality and Eutrophicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reviews and syntheses: Marine biogenic aerosols and the ecophysiology of coral reefs

Jackson

Gabric

Cropp

et al. 2019

Preprint

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<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Coral reefs are being threatened by global climate change, with ocean warming and acidification, compounded by declining water quality in many coastal systems, adversely affecting coral health and cover. This is of great concern as coral reefs provide numerous ecosystem, economic and social services. Corals are also recognized as being amongst the strongest individual sources of natural atmospheric sulfur, through stress-induced emissions of dimethylsulfide (DMS). In the clean marine boundary layer, biogenic sulfates contribute to new aerosol formation and the growth of existing particles, with important implications for the radiative balance. Evidence suggests that DMS is not only directly involved in the coral stress response, alleviating oxidative stress, but may create an <q>ocean thermostat</q> which suppresses sea surface temperature (SST) through changes to aerosol and cloud properties. This review provides a summary of the current major threats facing coral reefs and describes the role of dimethylated sulfur compounds in coral physiology and climate. The role of coral reefs as a source of climatically important compounds is an emerging topic of research however, the window of opportunity to understand the complex biogeophysical processes involved is closing with ongoing degradation of the world's coral reefs. The greatest uncertainty in our estimates of radiative forcing and climate change are derived from natural aerosol sources, such as marine DMS, which constitutes the largest flux of oceanic reduced sulfur to the atmosphere. Gaining a better understanding of the role of coral reef DMS emissions is crucial to predicting the future climate of our planet.</p>

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“…Sargassum biomass on inshore reefs of the GBR fluctuates seasonally and reaches a maximum during early summer and a minimum during mid-winter [36,39,40]. Macroalgae-dominated shallow inshore reefs of the GBR are also exposed to larger temperature fluctuations compared with off-shore reefs [41], with sea-surface temperature at inshore reefs frequently reaching 30°C during summer [42]. Hence, inshore regions of the GBR provide an ideal system to study the effects of macroalgae biomass, temperature, and nutrient fluctuations on the functional potential of coral reef microbiomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative genome-centric analysis reveals seasonal variation in the function of coral reef microbiomes

et al. 2020

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Microbially mediated processes contribute to coral reef resilience yet, despite extensive characterisation of microbial community variation following environmental perturbation, the effect on microbiome function is poorly understood. We undertook metagenomic sequencing of sponge, macroalgae and seawater microbiomes from a macroalgae-dominated inshore coral reef to define their functional potential and evaluate seasonal shifts in microbially mediated processes. In total, 125 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes were reconstructed, spanning 15 bacterial and 3 archaeal phyla. Multivariate analysis of the genomes relative abundance revealed changes in the functional potential of reef microbiomes in relation to seasonal environmental fluctuations (e.g. macroalgae biomass, temperature). For example, a shift from Alphaproteobacteria to Bacteroidota-dominated seawater microbiomes occurred during summer, resulting in an increased genomic potential to degrade macroalgal-derived polysaccharides. An 85% reduction of Chloroflexota was observed in the sponge microbiome during summer, with potential consequences for nutrition, waste product removal, and detoxification in the sponge holobiont. A shift in the Firmicutes:Bacteroidota ratio was detected on macroalgae over summer with potential implications for polysaccharide degradation in macroalgal microbiomes. These results highlight that seasonal shifts in the dominant microbial taxa alter the functional repertoire of host-associated and seawater microbiomes, and highlight how environmental perturbation can affect microbially mediated processes in coral reef ecosystems.

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Spatial resilience of the Great Barrier Reef under cumulative disturbance impacts

Cited by 101 publications

References 75 publications

Dimethylsulfide (DMS), marine biogenic aerosols and the ecophysiology of coral reefs

Dimethylsulfide (DMS), marine biogenic aerosols and the ecophysiology of coral reefs

Reviews and syntheses: Marine biogenic aerosols and the ecophysiology of coral reefs

Comparative genome-centric analysis reveals seasonal variation in the function of coral reef microbiomes

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