Spatial variation in mechanical properties of coral reef substrate and implications for coral colony integrity

dc.contributor.authorMadin, Joshua
dc.contributor.authorDell, A.I.
dc.contributor.authorMadin, E.M.P.
dc.contributor.authorNash, Merinda
dc.date.accessioned2016-06-14T23:20:00Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.date.updated2016-06-14T08:44:44Z
dc.description.abstractThe physical structure of coral reefs plays a critical role as a barrier to storm waves and tsunamis and as a habitat for living reef-building and reef-associated organisms. However, the mechanical properties of reef substrate (i. e. the non-living benthos) are largely unknown, despite the fact that substrate properties may ultimately determine where organisms can persist. We used a geo-mechanical technique to measure substrate material density and strength over a reef hydrodynamic gradient. Contrary to expectation, we found a weak relationship between substrate strength and wave-induced water flow: flow rates decline sharply at the reef crest, whereas substrate properties are relatively constant over much of the reef before declining by almost an order of magnitude at the reef back. These gradients generate a novel hump-shaped pattern in resistance to mechanical disturbances for live corals, where colonies closer to the back reef are prone to dislodgement because of poorly cemented substrate. Our results help explain an intermediate zone of higher taxonomic and morphological diversity bounded by lower diversity exposed reef crest and unstable reef back zones.
dc.identifier.issn0722-4028
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/103150
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.sourceCoral Reefs
dc.subjectKeywords: Anthozoa; Scleractinia Biomechanics; Cementation; Reef substrate; Scleractinian corals
dc.titleSpatial variation in mechanical properties of coral reef substrate and implications for coral colony integrity
dc.typeJournal article
local.bibliographicCitation.issue1
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage179
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage173
local.contributor.affiliationMadin, Joshua, Macquarie University
local.contributor.affiliationDell, A.I., James Cook University
local.contributor.affiliationMadin, E.M.P., James Cook University
local.contributor.affiliationNash, Merinda, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, ANU
local.contributor.authoremailu3194495@anu.edu.au
local.contributor.authoruidNash, Merinda, u3194495
local.description.embargo2037-12-31
local.description.notesImported from ARIES
local.identifier.absfor040000 - EARTH SCIENCES
local.identifier.ariespublicationU3488905xPUB4274
local.identifier.citationvolume32
local.identifier.doi10.1007/s00338-012-0958-0
local.identifier.scopusID2-s2.0-84874809461
local.identifier.uidSubmittedByU3488905
local.type.statusPublished Version

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