Declining growth rates of global coral reef ecosystems

Drawing on research from the late 1960s until now, the paper published in Communications & Environment reveals the global spatiotemporal trends and drivers of coral reef ecosystem growth (known as calcification).

One hundred and sixteen studies from 53 published papers were analysed.

“It is known that coral reefs have been degrading over time. Our study relies on historical data to quantify the current rate of decline and indicates what could be happening in the future,” said project leader Dr Kay Davis.

“Our work complements quite a few other studies that indicate net coral reef dissolution by mid-century, between 2030 and 2080.”

Case studies were of sites from all over the globe. The most studied country was Australia (Great Barrier Reef, Lord Howe Island and Western Australia reefs). Other case studies included reef sites in Japan, Hawaii, the Red Sea, French Polynesia and Bermuda, among others.

A quick reference for how calcification rates can indicate reef health. Healthy, fast growing reefs like the one on the left (One Tree Island) tend to have high calcification rates whereas degraded reefs like the one on the right (Lizard Island) tend to have low calcification rates.

“Repeat observations at the same sites can provide insight into how coral reefs are responding to changing environmental conditions on a global scale,” Dr Davis said.

“But these repeat surveys of calcification and productivity have only been carried out at seven sites.”

Declining coral cover and declining health of the remaining coral may be contributing to reduce global calcification rates.

“We found that rates of coral ecosystem calcification are significantly declining at an average rate of 4.3% ± 1.9% yr-1 with a concurrent reduction in mean coral cover of 1.8% yr-1. This suggests that loss of coral cover may not be the sole contributor of declining calcification,” said Dr Davis.

“Stress events, like coral bleaching, can impact calcification, even without coral death. Corals improve their chances of survival during stressful times by temporarily reducing calcification.”

To sustain coral reefs, individual corals need to grow to provide food and habitat for the ecosystem. Coral growth is called ‘calcification’. As corals take up calcium carbonate (CaCO3) from the water column to produce their skeletons, calcification rates can be determined through water chemistry changes.

Coral dissolution is the opposite, where the skeletons release CaCO3 back into the water, typically in periods of no productivity or when stressed. The higher the rate of net growth (calcification– dissolution), the more reef-building corals and calcifying algae are producing for the ecosystem.

The University’s National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour has unique analytical infrastructure to detect subtle changes in seawater chemistry required to quantify coral reef ecosystem calcification.

Dr Kay Davis undertaking a benthic survey on a reef flat at Heron Island in the Great Barrier Reef. The coral below has healthy, bleached, and dead sections (credit Ashly McMahon).

Funding
This study was supported by funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australian Academy of Sciences awarded to Professor Isaac Santos, a co-author of the study.

Study details
‘Global coral reef ecosystems exhibit declining calcification and increasing primary productivity’ published in Communications Earth & Environment.

DOI: 10.1038/s43247-021-00168-w

Media contact: Sharlene King, media office at Southern Cross University, 0429 661 349 or scumedia@scu.edu.au