Coral Reefs and Climate Change: Science and Management

J. T. Phinney; O. Hoegh‐Guldberg; J. Kleypas; W. Skirving; A. Strong

doi:doi:10.1029/CE061

COASTAL AND ESTUARINE STUDIES, VOL. 61, 244 PP., 2006
ISSN: 0733-9569; ISBN: 978-0-87590-359-0

Coral Reefs and Climate Change: Science and Management

J. T. Phinney, O. Hoegh‐Guldberg, J. Kleypas, W. Skirving, and A. Strong (Eds.)

The effects of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and related climate change on shallow coral reefs are gaining considerable attention for scientific and economic reasons worldwide. Although increased scientific research has improved our understanding of the response of coral reefs to climate change, we still lack key information that can help guide reef management. Research and monitoring of coral reef ecosystems over the past few decades have documented two major threats related to increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO₂: (1) increased sea surface temperatures and (2) increased seawater acidity (lower pH). Higher atmospheric CO₂ levels have resulted in rising sea surface temperatures and proven to be an acute threat to corals and other reef‐dwelling organisms. Short periods (days) of elevated sea surface temperatures by as little as 1–2°C above the normal maximum temperature has led to more frequent and more widespread episodes of coral bleaching‐the expulsion of symbiotic algae. A more chronic consequence of increasing atmospheric CO₂ is the lowering of pH of surface waters, which affects the rate at which corals and other reef organisms secrete and build their calcium carbonate skeletons. Average pH of the surface ocean has already decreased by an estimated 0.1 unit since preindustrial times, and will continue to decline in concert with rising atmospheric CO₂. These climate‐related Stressors combined with other direct anthropogenic assaults, such as overfishing and pollution, weaken reef organisms and increase their susceptibility to disease.

Citation: Phinney, J. T., O. Hoegh‐Guldberg, J. Kleypas, W. Skirving, and A. Strong (Eds.) (2006), Coral Reefs and Climate Change: Science and Management, Coastal Estuarine Stud., vol. 61, 244 pp., AGU, Washington, D. C., doi:10.1029/CE061.

Phinney, Jonathan T.; Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove; Kleypas, Joanie; Skirving, William; Strong, Allan E.

Preface

pp. vii-viii

[Abstract] | [Chapter] | [Full Text (PDF)]

Veron, John E. N.; Phinney, Jonathan

Corals and climate change: An introduction

pp. 1-4

[Abstract] | [Chapter] | [Full Text (PDF)]

Done, Terry; Jones, Roger

Tropical coastal ecosystems and climate change Prediction: Global and local risks

pp. 5-32

[Abstract] | [Chapter] | [Full Text (PDF)]