Holocene reef evolution in a macrotidal setting: Buccaneer Archipelago, Kimberley Bioregion, Northwest Australia

This study uses information derived from cores to describe the Holocene accretion history of coral reefs in the macrotidal (up to 11 m tidal range) Buccaneer Archipelago of the southern Kimberley coast, Western Australia. The internal architecture of all cored reefs is broadly similar, constituting...

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Main Authors: Solihuddin, Tubagus, O'Leary, Mick, Blakeway, David, Parnum, Iain, Kordi, M., Collins, L.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Springer Verlag 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11828
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author Solihuddin, Tubagus
O'Leary, Mick
Blakeway, David
Parnum, Iain
Kordi, M.
Collins, L.
author_facet Solihuddin, Tubagus
O'Leary, Mick
Blakeway, David
Parnum, Iain
Kordi, M.
Collins, L.
author_sort Solihuddin, Tubagus
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study uses information derived from cores to describe the Holocene accretion history of coral reefs in the macrotidal (up to 11 m tidal range) Buccaneer Archipelago of the southern Kimberley coast, Western Australia. The internal architecture of all cored reefs is broadly similar, constituting well-preserved detrital coral fragments, predominantly branching Acropora, in a poorly sorted sandy mud matrix. However, once the reefs reach sea level, they diverge into two types: low intertidal reefs that maintain their detrital character and develop relatively narrow, horizontal or gently sloping reef flats at approximately mean low water spring, and high intertidal reefs that develop broad coralline algal-dominated reef flats at elevations between mean low water neap and mean high water neap. The high intertidal reefs develop where strong, ebb-dominated, tidal asymmetry retains seawater over the low tide and allows continued accretion. Both reef types are ultimately constrained by sea level but differ in elevation by 3–4 m.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-118282017-09-13T14:53:17Z Holocene reef evolution in a macrotidal setting: Buccaneer Archipelago, Kimberley Bioregion, Northwest Australia Solihuddin, Tubagus O'Leary, Mick Blakeway, David Parnum, Iain Kordi, M. Collins, L. This study uses information derived from cores to describe the Holocene accretion history of coral reefs in the macrotidal (up to 11 m tidal range) Buccaneer Archipelago of the southern Kimberley coast, Western Australia. The internal architecture of all cored reefs is broadly similar, constituting well-preserved detrital coral fragments, predominantly branching Acropora, in a poorly sorted sandy mud matrix. However, once the reefs reach sea level, they diverge into two types: low intertidal reefs that maintain their detrital character and develop relatively narrow, horizontal or gently sloping reef flats at approximately mean low water spring, and high intertidal reefs that develop broad coralline algal-dominated reef flats at elevations between mean low water neap and mean high water neap. The high intertidal reefs develop where strong, ebb-dominated, tidal asymmetry retains seawater over the low tide and allows continued accretion. Both reef types are ultimately constrained by sea level but differ in elevation by 3–4 m. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11828 10.1007/s00338-016-1424-1 Springer Verlag restricted
spellingShingle Solihuddin, Tubagus
O'Leary, Mick
Blakeway, David
Parnum, Iain
Kordi, M.
Collins, L.
Holocene reef evolution in a macrotidal setting: Buccaneer Archipelago, Kimberley Bioregion, Northwest Australia
title Holocene reef evolution in a macrotidal setting: Buccaneer Archipelago, Kimberley Bioregion, Northwest Australia
title_full Holocene reef evolution in a macrotidal setting: Buccaneer Archipelago, Kimberley Bioregion, Northwest Australia
title_fullStr Holocene reef evolution in a macrotidal setting: Buccaneer Archipelago, Kimberley Bioregion, Northwest Australia
title_full_unstemmed Holocene reef evolution in a macrotidal setting: Buccaneer Archipelago, Kimberley Bioregion, Northwest Australia
title_short Holocene reef evolution in a macrotidal setting: Buccaneer Archipelago, Kimberley Bioregion, Northwest Australia
title_sort holocene reef evolution in a macrotidal setting: buccaneer archipelago, kimberley bioregion, northwest australia
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11828