A5044281862- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Coastal and Marine Dynamics
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research
- Geological and Geophysical Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Geological formations and processes
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration
- Ocean Waves and Remote Sensing
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- Island Studies and Pacific Affairs
- Coastal and Marine Management
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
- earthquake and tectonic studies
- Marine animal studies overview
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Flood Risk Assessment and Management
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
National University of Singapore
2022-2024
University of Auckland
2014-2023
Simon Fraser University
2018-2023
University of Canberra
2015
UNSW Sydney
2015
University of Waikato
2006
The University of Melbourne
1996-1999
Australian Defence Force Academy
1996-1998
Global-scale deteriorations in coral reef health have caused major shifts species composition. One projected consequence is a lowering of carbonate production rates, potentially impairing growth, compromising ecosystem functionality and ultimately leading to net erosion. Here, using measures gross erosion from 19 Caribbean reefs, we show that contemporary rates are now substantially below historical (mid- late-Holocene) values. On average, current reduced by at least 50%, 37% surveyed sites...
Australian reef flats on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands atoll, Indian Ocean; Warraber Reef, Torres Strait; and Lady Elliot Island, Great Barrier Reef vary greatly in morphology (width, elevation) hydrodynamic setting (wave tidal regime). This study describes results from detailed wave current measurements, under nonstorm conditions, along five flat transects these systems examines implications for surface geomorphic processes. Results show that frequency transformation varies between reefs a...
Research Article| February 01, 2005 New model of reef-island evolution: Maldives, Indian Ocean P.S. Kench; Kench 1School Geography and Environmental Science, University Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R.F. McLean; McLean 2School Physical, Mathematical Sciences, South Wales, ACT 2600, Australia S.L. Nichol 3School Geology (2005) 33 (2): 145–148. https://doi.org/10.1130/G21066.1 Article history received: 27 Jul 2004 rev-recd: 18...
Abstract Coral reef islands are among the most vulnerable environments on Earth to climate change because they low lying and largely constructed from unconsolidated sediments that can be readily reworked by waves currents. These derive entirely surrounding coral flat thus highly sensitive ecological transitions may modify community composition productivity. How such modifications – driven anthropogenic disturbances on‐going projected climatic environmental will impact island sediment supply...
The future of low‐lying reef islands has been the subject international concern, scientific debate, and media interest in last decade. As a result sea‐level rise, atoll are expected to become increasingly unstable be susceptible potential depopulation by end 21st century. Some have suggested that rise already resulted widespread erosion inundation islands. Here, we analyze physical changes over 200 on 12 atolls central western Pacific past few decades when sea level region increased at rates...
Abstract Coral cover on Caribbean reefs has declined rapidly since the early 1980's. Diseases have been a major driver, decimating communities of framework building Acropora and Orbicella coral species, reportedly leading to emergence novel assemblages often dominated by domed plating species genera Agaricia , Porites Siderastrea . These corals were not historically important builders, typically much smaller stature lower calcification rates, fuelling concerns over reef carbonate production...
Abstract Sea-level rise and climatic change threaten the existence of atoll nations. Inundation erosion are expected to render islands uninhabitable over next century, forcing human migration. Here we present analysis shoreline in all 101 Pacific nation Tuvalu. Using remotely sensed data, is analysed past four decades, a period when local sea level has risen at twice global average (~3.90 ± 0.4 mm.yr −1 ). Results highlight net increase land area Tuvalu 73.5 ha (2.9%), despite sea-level...
Research Article| June 01, 2015 Coral islands defy sea-level rise over the past century: Records from a central Pacific atoll P.S. Kench; Kench 1School of Environment, The University Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. Thompson; Thompson M.R. Ford; Ford H. Ogawa; Ogawa R.F. McLean 2School Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia Author Article Information...
Reef islands are unique landforms composed entirely of sediment produced on the surrounding coral reefs. Despite fundamental importance these ecological-sedimentary links for island development and future maintenance, reef production regimes remain poorly quantified. Using census sedimentary data from Vakkaru (Maldives), a sand-dominated atoll interior island, we quantify major sediment-generating habitats, abundance producers in rates size fractions generated by different taxa. The...
Coral cover has declined rapidly on Caribbean reefs since the early 1980s, reducing carbonate production and reef growth. Using a cross-regional dataset, we show that widespread reductions in bioerosion rates-a key cycling process-have accompanied declines. Bioerosion by parrotfish, urchins, endolithic sponges microendoliths collectively averages 2 G (where = kg CaCO3 m(-2) yr(-1)) (range 0.96-3.67 G). This rate is at least 75% lower than reported from prior to their shift towards present...
It has been proposed that the chemical composition of a coral's mucus can influence associated bacterial community. However, information on this topic is rare, and non-existent for corals are under thermal stress. This study therefore compared carbohydrate in coral Acropora muricata when subjected to increasing stress from 26 31°C, determined whether correlated with any changes Results showed that, at lower temperatures, main components were N-acetyl glucosamine C6 sugars, but these...
Coral reef islands are morphodynamically resilient landforms that can adjust to sea level rise through vertical accretion.
Global environmental change is identified as a driver of physical transformation coral reef islands over the past half-century, and next 100 years, posing major adaptation challenges to island nations. Here we resolve whether these recent documented changes in are unprecedented compared with pre-industrial era. We utilise radiometric dating, geological, remote sensing techniques document dynamics Maldivian at millennial decadal timescales. Results show magnitude half-century (±40 m movement)...
The Maldives experience seasonal shifts in monsoon winds from the west‐northwest to northeast. morphologic response of reef island beaches and shorelines these predictable climate was examined on eight islands South Maalhosmadulu Atoll based global positioning system surveys shoreline planform January June 2002 February 2003. Surveys show that exhibit large gross changes (31–120% beach area) position between seasons. Such reflect reversals sediment flux 9–23 × 10 3 m a biannual basis driven...
Research Article| March 01, 2006 Geological effects of tsunami on mid-ocean atoll islands: The Maldives before and after the Sumatran Paul S. Kench; Kench 1School Geography Environmental Science, University Auckland, Private Bag 92019, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Roger F. McLean; McLean 2School Physical, Mathematical Sciences, South Wales,Canberra ACT 2600, Australia Robert W. Brander; Brander 3School Biological Earth Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052,...
Research Article| May 01, 2009 Holocene reef growth in the Maldives: Evidence of a mid-Holocene sea-level highstand central Indian Ocean P.S. Kench; Kench 11School Geography, Geology and Environmental Science, University Auckland, Private Bag 92019, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S.G. Smithers; Smithers 22School Earth Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia R.F. McLean; McLean 33School Physical, Mathematical South Wales, ACT...
Abstract The timing and evolution of Jabat Island, Marshall Islands, was investigated using morphostratigraphic analysis radiometric dating. Results show the first evidence island building in Pacific during latter stages Holocene sea level rise. A three‐phase model development is presented. Initially, rapid accumulation coarse sediments on occurred 4800–4000 years B.P. across a reef flat higher than present level, as continued to During highstand, margins particularly western margin accreted...
The coral mucus may harbor commensal bacteria that inhibit growth of pathogens. Therefore, there is a need to understand the dynamics bacterial communities between and tissues. Nubbins Acropora muricata were subjected increasing water temperatures 26°C–33°C, simultaneously explore diversity in tissues by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Photochemical efficiency symbiotic dinoflagellates within corals declined above 31°C. Both healthy A. dominated γ-Proteobacteria, but under thermal stress...