Quaternary reef response to sea‐level and environmental change in the western Atlantic

A major barrier reef system, including the Belize Barrier Reef, was established during high sea-levels of marine isotope stage 11, indicating that tropical reefs thrive under warm and stable conditions. The study reveals that reef development in the western Atlantic is closely tied to sea-level fluctuations, with erosion and non-deposition dominating during lowstands, while fringing reefs developed during highstands. Evidence from elevated terraces suggests higher-than-present sea-levels and temperatures sustained large carbonate platforms during the last interglacial period (MIS 5e). The research also highlights that postglacial sea-level rise was rapid, punctuated by meltwater pulses, and influenced reef development in the early Holocene. While many reefs kept pace with rising sea levels, others were drowned due to factors such as elevated antecedent topography, environmental deterioration, or high nutrient input. The historical decline of acroporid corals, linked to cooling post-Holocene thermal optimum, underscores that recent declines may be unprecedented in the Holocene.

Gischler, E. (2014). Quaternary reef response to sea‐level and environmental change in the western Atlantic. Sedimentology, 62(2), 429–465. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/sed.12174