Carbonate Production by Benthic Communities on Shallow Coralgal Reefs of Abrolhos Bank, Brazil.
The abundance of reef builders, non-builders and the calcium carbonate produced by communities established in Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) were determined in three Abrolhos Bank shallow reefs during the period from 2012 to 2014. In addition, the seawater temperature, the irradiance, and the amount and composition of the sediments were determined. The inner and outer reef arcs were compared. CAUs located on the inner reef shelf were under the influence of terrigenous sediments. On the outer reefs, the sediments were composed primarily of marine biogenic carbonates. The mean carbonate production in shallow reefs of Abrolhos was 579 ± 98 g m-2 y-1. The builder community was dominated by crustose coralline algae, while the non-builder community was dominated by turf. A marine heat wave was detected during the summer of 2013-2014, and the number of consecutive days with a temperature above or below the summer mean was positively correlated with the turf cover increase. The mean carbonate production of the shallow reefs of Abrolhos Bank was greater than the estimated carbonate production measured for artificial structures on several other shallow reefs of the world. The calcimass was higher than the non-calcareous mass, suggesting that the Abrolhos reefs are still in a positive carbonate production balance. Given that marine heat waves produce an increase of turf cover on the shallow reefs of the Abrolhos, a decrease in the cover represented by reef builders and shifting carbonate production are expected in the near future.
Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Vanessa Moura Dos
VM
Reis
Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Cláudia Santiago
CS
Karez
Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Rodrigo
R
Mariath
Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Fernando Coreixas
FC
de Moraes
Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Rodrigo Tomazetto
RT
de Carvalho
Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Poliana Silva
PS
Brasileiro
Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Ricardo da Gama
Rda G
Bahia
Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Tito Monteiro da Cruz
TM
Lotufo
Departamento de Invertebrados, Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Laís Vieira
LV
Ramalho
Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Rodrigo Leão
RL
de Moura
Departamento de Engenharia e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Rio Tinto, Paraíba, Brazil.
Ronaldo Bastos
RB
Francini-Filho
Instituto do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.
Guilherme Henrique
GH
Pereira-Filho
Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Fabiano Lopes
FL
Thompson
Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil.
Alex Cardoso
AC
Bastos
Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Leonardo Tavares
LT
Salgado
Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Gilberto Menezes
GM
Amado-Filho
D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D057894:Coral Reefs; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000502:physiology*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater; D013696:Temperature
D002119:Calcium Carbonate