Remote sensing of sea surface temperatures during 2002 Barrier Reef coral bleaching

Eos ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 84 (15) ◽  
pp. 137-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Liu ◽  
Alan E. Strong ◽  
William Skirving
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Reef Coral ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Sea Surface Temperatures ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Surface Temperatures

Factors affecting the cycling of dimethylsulfide and dimethylsulfoniopropionate in coral reef waters of the Great Barrier Reef

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Jones ◽  
Mark Curran ◽  
Andrew Broadbent ◽  
Stacey King ◽  
Esther Fischer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Sea Surface Temperatures ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Magnetic Island ◽  
Surface Temperatures ◽  
Acropora Formosa

Environmental context. Levels of atmospheric dimethylsulfide (DMS) and its oxidation products are reputed to affect the microphysics of clouds and the amount of incoming solar radiation to the ocean. Studies of DMS and its precursor compound dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) at two inshore fringing coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef highlight pronounced seasonal, diurnal and tidal variation of these compounds, with dissolved DMS and DMSP significantly correlated with sea surface temperatures (SSTs) up to 30°C. During a coral bleaching episode at one of the reef sites, dissolved DMS concentrations decreased when SSTs exceeded 30°C, a result replicated in chamber experiments with staghorn coral. The results raise interesting questions on the role of these organosulfur substances in corals and whether DMS emissions from coral reefs could have an effect on regional climate in the Great Barrier Reef. Abstract. A study of dissolved dimethylsulfide (DMSw), dissolved and particulate dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSPd, DMSPp), and atmospheric dimethylsulfide (DMSa) was carried out at two inshore fringing coral reefs (Orpheus Island and Magnetic Island) in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) to investigate the variation of these organosulfur substances with season, sea surface temperature, tides, and time of day. Highest concentrations of these organosulfur substances occurred in the summer months at both reefs, with lowest concentrations occurring during winter, suggesting a biological source of these compounds from the reef flats. At the Orpheus Island reef, where more measurements were made, DMSw and DMSPd were significantly correlated with tidal height during the flooding tide over the reef (r = 0.37, P < 0.05; r = 0.58, P < 0.01 respectively), and elevated DMSw and DMSa concentrations generally occurred in the daylight hours, possibly reflecting photosynthetic production of DMSw from the reef flats. Chamber experiments with the staghorn coral Acropora formosa confirmed that corals produce DMSw in the day. DMSw (r = 0.43, P < 0.001) and DMSPd (r = 0.59, P < 0.001) were significantly positively correlated with sea surface temperatures (SST) at the Orpheus Island reef. During severe coral bleaching at the eutrophic Magnetic Island reef in the summer, DMSw concentrations decreased at SSTs greater than 30°C, suggesting that reef production of DMSw decreases during elevated SSTs. This was later confirmed in chamber experiments with Acropora formosa, which showed that when this coral was exposed to temperatures at its bleaching threshold (31°C), decreased production of DMSw occurred. These results suggest that DMS and DMSP in coral zooxanthellae may be functioning as antioxidants, but further experiments are needed to substantiate this.

Remote sensing of the Indo-Pacific region: ocean colour, sea level, winds and sea surface temperatures

2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1423-1435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raghu Murtugudde ◽  
Liping Wang ◽  
Eric Hackert ◽  
James Beauchamp ◽  
James Christian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Sea Surface Temperatures ◽  
Ocean Colour ◽  
Surface Temperatures

scholarly journals Exposure to elevated sea-surface temperatures below the bleaching threshold impairs coral recovery and regeneration following injury

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Louis Bonesso ◽  
William Leggat ◽  
Tracy Danielle Ainsworth
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Sea Surface Temperatures ◽  
Physical Damage ◽  
Thermal Limits ◽  
Surface Temperatures ◽  
Coral Recovery

Elevated sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are linked to an increase in the frequency and severity of bleaching events due to temperatures exceeding corals’ upper thermal limits. The temperatures at which a breakdown of the coral-Symbiodinium endosymbiosis (coral bleaching) occurs are referred to as the upper thermal limits for the coral species. This breakdown of the endosymbiosis results in a reduction of corals’ nutritional uptake, growth, and tissue integrity. Periods of elevated sea surface temperature, thermal stress and coral bleaching are also linked to increased disease susceptibility and an increased frequency of storms which cause injury and physical damage to corals. Herein we aimed to determine the capacity of corals to regenerate and recover from injuries (removal of apical tips) sustained during periods of elevated sea surface temperatures which result in coral stress responses, but which do not result in coral bleaching (i.e. sub-bleaching thermal stress events). In this study, exposure of the species Acropora aspera to an elevated SST of 32°C (2°C below the bleaching threshold, 34°C) was found to result in reduced fluorescence of green fluorescent protein (GFP), reduced skeletal calcification and a lack of branch regrowth at the site of injury, compared to corals maintained under ambient SST conditions (26°C). Corals maintained under normal, ambient, sea surface temperatures expressed high GFP fluorescence at the injury site, underwent a rapid regeneration of the coral branch apical tip within 12 days of sustaining injury, and showed extensive regrowth of the coral skeleton. Taken together, our results have demonstrated that periods of sustained increased sea surface temperatures, below the corals’ bleaching threshold but above long-term summertime averages, impair coral recovery from damage, regardless of the onset or occurrence of coral bleaching .

scholarly journals Exposure to elevated sea-surface temperatures below the bleaching threshold impairs coral recovery and regeneration following injury

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Louis Bonesso ◽  
William Leggat ◽  
Tracy Danielle Ainsworth
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Sea Surface Temperatures ◽  
Physical Damage ◽  
Thermal Limits ◽  
Surface Temperatures ◽  
Coral Recovery

Elevated sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are linked to an increase in the frequency and severity of bleaching events due to temperatures exceeding corals’ upper thermal limits. The temperatures at which a breakdown of the coral-Symbiodinium endosymbiosis (coral bleaching) occurs are referred to as the upper thermal limits for the coral species. This breakdown of the endosymbiosis results in a reduction of corals’ nutritional uptake, growth, and tissue integrity. Periods of elevated sea surface temperature, thermal stress and coral bleaching are also linked to increased disease susceptibility and an increased frequency of storms which cause injury and physical damage to corals. Herein we aimed to determine the capacity of corals to regenerate and recover from injuries (removal of apical tips) sustained during periods of elevated sea surface temperatures which result in coral stress responses, but which do not result in coral bleaching (i.e. sub-bleaching thermal stress events). In this study, exposure of the species Acropora aspera to an elevated SST of 32°C (2°C below the bleaching threshold, 34°C) was found to result in reduced fluorescence of green fluorescent protein (GFP), reduced skeletal calcification and a lack of branch regrowth at the site of injury, compared to corals maintained under ambient SST conditions (26°C). Corals maintained under normal, ambient, sea surface temperatures expressed high GFP fluorescence at the injury site, underwent a rapid regeneration of the coral branch apical tip within 12 days of sustaining injury, and showed extensive regrowth of the coral skeleton. Taken together, our results have demonstrated that periods of sustained increased sea surface temperatures, below the corals’ bleaching threshold but above long-term summertime averages, impair coral recovery from damage, regardless of the onset or occurrence of coral bleaching .

scholarly journals Exposure to elevated sea-surface temperatures below the bleaching threshold impairs coral recovery and regeneration following injury

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Louis Bonesso ◽  
William Leggat ◽  
Tracy Danielle Ainsworth
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Sea Surface Temperatures ◽  
Physical Damage ◽  
Thermal Limits ◽  
Surface Temperatures ◽  
Coral Recovery

Elevated sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are linked to an increase in the frequency and severity of bleaching events due to temperatures exceeding corals’ upper thermal limits. The temperatures at which a breakdown of the coral-Symbiodinium endosymbiosis (coral bleaching) occurs are referred to as the upper thermal limits for the coral species. This breakdown of the endosymbiosis results in a reduction of corals’ nutritional uptake, growth, and tissue integrity. Periods of elevated sea surface temperature, thermal stress and coral bleaching are also linked to increased disease susceptibility and an increased frequency of storms which cause injury and physical damage to corals. Herein we aimed to determine the capacity of corals to regenerate and recover from injuries (removal of apical tips) sustained during periods of elevated sea surface temperatures which result in coral stress responses, but which do not result in coral bleaching (i.e., sub-bleaching thermal stress events). In this study, exposure of the species Acropora aspera to an elevated SST of 32 °C (2 °C below the bleaching threshold, 34 °C) was found to result in reduced fluorescence of green fluorescent protein (GFP), reduced skeletal calcification and a lack of branch regrowth at the site of injury, compared to corals maintained under ambient SST conditions (26 °C). Corals maintained under normal, ambient, sea surface temperatures expressed high GFP fluorescence at the injury site, underwent a rapid regeneration of the coral branch apical tip within 12 days of sustaining injury, and showed extensive regrowth of the coral skeleton. Taken together, our results have demonstrated that periods of sustained increased sea surface temperatures, below the corals’ bleaching threshold but above long-term summertime averages, impair coral recovery from damage, regardless of the onset or occurrence of coral bleaching.

scholarly journals A Classroom Activity Using Satellite Sea Surface Temperatures to Predict Coral Bleaching

Oceanography ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Britt-Anne Parker ◽  
Tyler Christensen ◽  
Scott Heron ◽  
Jessica Morgan ◽  
C. Mark Eakin
Keyword(s):  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Sea Surface Temperatures ◽  
Classroom Activity ◽  
Surface Temperatures
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