Coral record of harbour dredging: Townsville, Australia

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dc.contributor.authorEsslemont, Gen_AU
dc.contributor.authorRussell, RAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMaher, WAen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-23T00:18:54Zen_AU
dc.date.available2024-02-23T00:18:54Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2004-12en_AU
dc.date.statistics2024-02-20en_AU
dc.description.abstractConcentrations of Ba/Ca, Cu/Ca, Sr/Ca and Zn/Ca were measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry in a branching coral, Pocillopora damicornis, from a coral reef receiving suspended sediments from Townsville Harbour dredging activities. The Sr/Ca record correlated with observed sea surface temperatures (SST), which allowed pulse inclusions of barium, copper and zinc to be dated and compared with various environmental records. Copper and zinc concentrations in this coral skeleton correlated with short exposures to labile metals in resuspended fine sediment. The biota–sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) indicated that concentrations of these metals in the coral skeleton were lower than the labile fraction in the sediment (BSAF=0.15 and 0.18, respectively). Distortions to the timing and amplitude of pulse-records in the coral record may have been caused by seasonal variation in skeleton growth. High barium concentrations in the coral skeleton recorded during a dry period corresponded with weather events that resuspended fine, inner-shelf sediment, specifically local winds interacting with swells driven by offshore trade winds, and dredging of the harbour's access channel. This coral has recorded entry of resuspended fine sediment into the reef. Irregularities in the strontium paleothermometer were similar to the solar radiation profile, which preceded variation of seawater temperature by about a month. When coral records were temporally adjusted to fit variation in solar radiation, the correlation between strontium and solar radiation was greater than the strontium–temperature correlation used to date the coral. © 2004 Elsevier B.Ven_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering provided funding for SIMS analysis. Several people provided advice or technical assistance: M. Gagan, H. Lynch (Australian National University); J. Kirby, G. Fisher (University of Canberra); S. Markich (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation); P. Larcombe, P. Ridd (James Cook University); A. Chin (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority); C. Wilson (Townsville Port Authority); J. Wilson (Department of Land and Water Conservation); D. Barnes, R. Berkelmans, J. Lough (Australian Institute of Marine Science). J. Lough, and the Townsville Port Authority supplied the environmental data.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationEsslemont, G., Russell, R. A., & Maher, W. A. (2004). Coral record of harbour dredging: Townsville, Australia. Journal of Marine Systems, 52(1-4), 51-64. doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2004.01.005en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0924-7963en_AU
dc.identifier.issue1-4en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleJournal of Marine Systemsen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination51-64en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/handle/10238/15404en_AU
dc.identifier.volume52en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevieren_AU
dc.relation.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2004.01.005en_AU
dc.subjectCoralsen_AU
dc.subjectHarborsen_AU
dc.subjectDredgingen_AU
dc.subjectQueenslanden_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectEnvironmental effectsen_AU
dc.subjectSedimentsen_AU
dc.subjectMass spectroscopyen_AU
dc.subjectTrace amountsen_AU
dc.subjectMetalsen_AU
dc.titleCoral record of harbour dredging: Townsville, Australiaen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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