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Research Programs

Biocomplexity: Coral Reefs and Climate Change
FY2006 activities

TIIMES Theme:
BEACHON

Compiled by Joanie Kleypas - SERE: ISSE - TIIMES

Collaborators: Victoria Fabry (California State University), Dick Feely (NOAA), James Hendee (NOAA), Chris Langdon (University of Miami), Chris Sabine (NOAA), Rik Wanninkof (NOAA)

Marine Studies

Shallow Benthic System Open Ocean System

Figure 1. Comparison of the major processes that need to be taken into account in modeling the carbonate system in (A) a shallow benthic system (< 100 m depth) and (B) an open ocean system (up to 6000 m depth).  These are simplified representations.  For example, the dissolution component in both systems involves complicated processes that include differences in mineralogies, organic matter respiration, etc. (from Kleypas et al., 2006)

Coral Bleaching

Coral Bleaching

Figure 2. Comparison of coral bleaching thresholds for a reef from a region of high temperature variability (top, Galapagos) and one of low variability (bottom, Indonesia).  Gray bar marks 1C above the mean maximum temperature, with bleaching likely once temperature exceeds this value.  Dashed line marks 2 standard deviations above the mean maximum temperature.  Observations of severe bleaching are marked by red dots.

A marine focus within the NCAR biocomplexity research efforts includes work on the direct response of ocean chemistry to increases in atmospheric CO2 concentration.  This focus has led to the publication of the report: “Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reefs and Other Marine Calcifiers: A Guide for Future Research” (Kleypas et al. 2006).  This report is a synthesis of existing knowledge about ocean acidification and its impacts on marine organisms that secrete calcium carbonate (figure 1).  Additional progress has been made on standardizing seawater chemistry measurements on a coral reef in collaboration with scientists at the NOAA AOML lab in Miami. Work has also continued on analyzing the regional variability on coral bleaching to temperature; one new conclusion from this analysis is that regional differences in temperature sensitivity of corals is a major factor in vulnerability to temperature extremes (figure 2).

Publications related to coral reef biocomplexity funding

Kleypas, J.A. and C. Langdon (in press) Coral Reefs and Changing Seawater Chemistry, Chapter in Coral Reefs and Climate Change, J. Phinney, O. Hoegh-Guldberg, J. Kleypas, W. Skirving (eds), AGU Monograph Series.

Kleypas, J.A. (in press) Constraints on predicting coral reef response to climate change, IN: R. Aronson (ed.), Geological Approaches to Coral Reef Ecology, Springer-Verlag, NY.

Kleypas, J.A, R.A. Feely, V.J. Fabry, C. Langdon, C.L. Sabine and L.L. Robbins. 2006. Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reefs and Other Marine Calcifiers. A Guide for Future Research, Report of a workshop sponsored by NSF, NOAA and the US Geological Survey. 88pp.

Kleypas, J.A. 2006. Predictions of climate change in the tropical oceans, and how that should shape our conservation efforts. Proc. World Maritime Technology Conf. 6-10 March 2006, London (peer-reviewed).