 | I am currently working as a Mendenhall Post-Doctoral Fellow at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies in St. Petersburg, FL, USA. I am part of a research group led by Dr. Kimberly Yates. Our research promotes fundamental understanding of biogeochemical cycling in coral reefs and how that is being influenced by climate-driven pressures such as ocean acidification and increased sea surface temperature. Coral reefs are uniquely complex ecosystems in that they are defined by geological structures ("reefs") which are built primarily by calcifying biological organisms (primarily coral and algae). Coral reefs are one of the most important ecosystems on Earth: Along with exhibiting the highest biodiversity of any known marine ecosystem, they also provide critical habitat for many fish and invertebrate species that are of great commercial importance world-wide. However, a recent increase in a combination of anthropogenic and climatic stresses has resulted in degradation and near collapse of many coral reef ecosystems world-wide. Focused and coordinated science efforts are needed to understand the complex physical, chemical, and biological processes and interactions that are impacting coral reefs and their ability to respond to changing conditions. Such Information will effectively guide policies and best management practices in order to preserve coral reef resources for future generations. |
and Sea Surface Temperature Recorded in Coral Skeletons
 | The ocean is the ultimate sink for excess anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere, and this has had drastic impacts on seawater chemistry. As the amount of CO2 dissolved in seawater increases, oceanic pH decreases. It is estimated that the surface oceans may have already experienced a reduction of 0.1 pH units since pre-industrial times. Corals are excellent recorders of such changes because they deposit calcium carbonate skeletons in annual bands and can grow for several centuries. Coral-based paleo-pH records have been successfully produced using a coral from the Great Barrier Reef, and the authors of that study concluded that: "Additional paleo-pH records are required from a range of coral reef ecosystems to improve our understanding of the physical and biological controls on reef-water pH, and the long-term impact of future ocean acidification". My research will use a multi-proxy approach in modern coral cores taken from the Caribbean Sea region in order to determine the relationship between paleo-variations in seawater pH, temperature, and coral growth and calcification. This study will not only address the problem of ocean acidification in a geological context, but will provide data which can be used in models to help better predict the response of coral reef ecosystems to increased atmospheric CO2. Funding for this work is provided by the USGS Mendenhall Post-Doctoral Research Program |