Dynamics of seawater carbonate chemistry, production, and calcification of a coral reef flat, central Great Barrier Reef

Coral reef calcification on the Great Barrier Reef is highly sensitive to changes in seawater carbonate chemistry, with even small shifts in aragonite saturation state (Ωarag) driving measurable shifts in net ecosystem calcification. The study, conducted at Davies Reef flat in the central Great Barrier Reef, found that daytime net community production (NCP) and net ecosystem calcification (NEC) were significantly higher than nighttime values across both summer and winter seasons. Warming explained a substantial portion of seasonal shifts in pCO2 and pH, underscoring the vulnerability of reefs to climate change. The research highlights the critical role of carbonate chemistry in coral reef resilience and provides data essential for predicting global-scale changes to reef calcification under ocean acidification.

Albright, R., Langdon, C., & Anthony, K. R. N. (2013). Dynamics of seawater carbonate chemistry, production, and calcification of a coral reef flat, central Great Barrier Reef. Biogeosciences, 10(10), 6747–6758. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-6747-2013