Deglacial mesophotic reef demise on the Great Barrier Reef

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dc.contributor.authorAbbey, Een_AU
dc.contributor.authorWebster, JMen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBraga, JCen_AU
dc.contributor.authorJacobsen, GEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorThorogood, GJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorThomas, ALen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCamoin, Gen_AU
dc.contributor.authorReimer, PJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPotts, DCen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2014-06-26T03:37:02Zen_AU
dc.date.available2014-06-26T03:37:02Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2013-12-15en_AU
dc.date.statistics2014-06-26en_AU
dc.description.abstractSubmerged reefs are important recorders of palaeo-environments and sea-level change, and provide a substrate for modem mesophotic (deep-water, light-dependent) coral communities. Mesophotic reefs are rarely, if ever, described from the fossil record and nothing is known of their long-term record on Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Sedimentological and palaeo-ecological analyses coupled with 67 C-14 AMS and U-Th radiometric dates from dredged coral, algae and btyozoan specimens, recovered from depths of 45 to 130 m, reveal two distinct generations of fossil mesophotic coral community development on the submerged shelf edge reefs of the GBR. They occurred from 13 to 10 ka and 8 ka to present. We identified eleven sedimentary fades representing both autochthonous (in situ) and allochthonous (detrital) genesis, and their palaeo-environmental settings have been interpreted based on their sedimentological characteristics, biological assemblages, and the distribution of similar modern biota within the dredges. Facies on the shelf edge represent deep sedimentary environments, primarily forereef slope and open platform settings in palaeo-water depths of 45-95 m. Two coral-algal assemblages and one non-coral encruster assemblage were identified: 1) Massive and tabular corals including Porites, Montipora and faviids associated with Lithophylloids and minor Mastophoroids, 2) platy and encrusting corals including Porites, Montipora and Pachyseris associated with melobesioids and Sporolithon, and 3) Melobesiods and Sporolithon with acervulinids (foraminifera) and bryozoans. Based on their modem occurrence on the GBR and Coral Sea and modem specimens collected in dredges, these are interpreted as representing palaeo-water depths of <60 m, <80-100 m and >100 m respectively. The first mesophotic generation developed at modern depths of 85-130 m from 13 to 10.2 ka and exhibit a deepening succession of <60 to >100 m palaeo-water depth through time. The second generation developed at depths of 45-70 m on the shelf edge from 7.8 ka to present and exhibit stable environmental conditions through time. The apparent hiatus that interrupted the mesophotic coral communities coincided with the timing of modem reef initiation on the GBR as well as a wide-spread flux of siliciclastic sediments from the shelf to the basin. For the first time we have observed the response of mesophotic reef communities to millennial scale environmental perturbations, within the context of global sea-level rise and environmental changes. © 2013, Elsevier Ltd.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationAbbey, E., Webster, J. M., Braga, J. C., Jacobsen, G. E., Thorogood, G., Thomas, A. L., Camoin, G., Reimer, P. J., & Potts, D. C. (2013). Deglacial mesophotic reef demise on the Great Barrier Reef. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 392, 473-494. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.09.032en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc5229en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0031-0182en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitlePalaeogeographyen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination473-494en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.09.032en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/5721en_AU
dc.identifier.volume392en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevier Science BVen_AU
dc.subjectQuaternary perioden_AU
dc.subjectSea levelen_AU
dc.subjectCoralsen_AU
dc.subjectCarbon 14en_AU
dc.subjectReefsen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.titleDeglacial mesophotic reef demise on the Great Barrier Reefen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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