Open AccessFrom Corals to Canyons: The Great Barrier Reef Margin
Author(s) -
Webster Jody M.,
Beaman Robin J.,
Bridge Thomas,
Davies Peter J.,
Byrne Maria,
Williams Stefan,
Manning Phil,
Pizarro Oscar,
Thornborough Kate,
Woolsey Erika,
Thomas Alex,
Tudhope Sandy
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2008eo240002
Subject(s) - reef , oceanography , coral reef , great barrier reef , canyon , coral , habitat , effects of global warming on oceans , climate change , geology , fishery , geography , global warming , ecology , biology , geomorphology
The significance of submerged fossil coral reefs as important archives of abrupt global sea level rise and climate change has been confirmed by investigations in the Caribbean [ Fairbanks , 1989] and the Indo‐ Pacific (see Montaggioni [2005] for a summary) and by recent Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) activities in Tahiti [ Camoin et al. , 2007]. Similar submerged (40–130 meters) reef structures are preserved along the margin of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), but they have not yet been systematically studied. The submerged reefs have the potential to provide critical new information about the nature of past global sea level and climate variability and about the response of the GBR to these past and perhaps future environmental changes [ Beaman et al. , 2008]. Equally important for GBR Marine Park managers is information about the role of the reefs as habitats and substrates for modern biological communities.