Diurnal and seasonal measurements of seawater chemistry, temperature and PAR in Hurricane Hole, U.S. Virgin Islands - 2010-2012 ...

• Main Authors: Yates, Kimberly Kaye, Rogers, Caroline S, Herlan, James, Brooks, Gregg R, Smiley, Nathan A, Larson, Rebekka A
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2014
• Subjects: Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.825752; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.825752

Risk analyses indicate that more than 90% of the world's reefs will be threatened by climate change and local anthropogenic impacts by the year 2030 under "business-as-usual" climate scenarios. Increasing temperatures and solar radiation cause coral bleaching that has resulted in extensive coral mortality. Increasing carbon dioxide reduces seawater pH, slows coral growth, and may cause loss of reef structure. Management strategies include establishment of marine protected areas with environmental conditions that promote reef resiliency. However, few resilient reefs have been identified, and resiliency factors are poorly defined. Here we characterize the first natural, non-reef coral refuge from thermal stress and ocean acidification and identify resiliency factors for mangrove-coral habitats. We measured diurnal and seasonal variations in temperature, salinity, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and seawater chemistry; characterized substrate parameters; and examined water circulation patterns in ... : Supplement to: Yates, Kimberly Kaye; Rogers, Caroline S; Herlan, James; Brooks, Gregg R; Smiley, Nathan A; Larson, Rebekka A (2014): Diverse coral communities in mangrove habitats suggest a novel refuge from climate change. Biogeosciences, 11(16), 4321-4337 ...