Abstract
Data on Acanthaster planci skeletal element distribution in reefal subsurface sediment cores of two reefs of the central Great Barrier Reef (Walbran et al. 1989 a, b) were shown to be readily interpretable after a timescaled evaluation of element frequencies. After re-scaling using 14C bulk sediment ages, high frequencies of elements were recognized in the top layers of John Brewer Reef sediment cores and attributed to the two recent A. planci population outbreaks. Beneath these top layers, the subsurface sediments contain consistently low element frequencies down to bulk-sediment ages of 7750±100 years BP. From Green Island, the maximum abundance of skeletal elements was found in the sediment layers of about 1900 to 2300 years BP in some cores, but patterns were too inconsistent and the number of cores too small to suggest former A. planci outbreaks from these data. A strong correlation was found between the frequency of A. planci elements and the rate of sedimentation per time unit in sediment cores of all sites. This correlation was attributed to increased erosion of coral reefs as a consequence of the activities of high-density populations of A. planci. We conclude that reef erosion, after intense predation of reef-constructing organisms, has to be considered when causes of deterioriation of reef growth or termination of a reef facies in the geological past are discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Keesing JK, Bradbury RH, DeVantier LM, Riddle MJ, De'ath G (1992) Geological evidence for recurring outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish: a reassessment from an ecological perspective. Coral Reefs 11:79–85
Pandolfi JM (1992) A palaeobiological examination of the geological evidence for recurring outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci (L.) Coral Reefs 11:87–93
Pearson RG (1975) Coral reefs, unpredictable climatic factors and Acanthaster. In: Crown-of-thorn Starfish Seminar Proceedings. Australian Government Publishing Service. Brisbane Canberra, pp 131–134
Pearson RG (1981) Recovery and recolonization of coral reefs. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 4:105–122
Roberts HH, Wiseman WJ Jr, Suchanek TH (1981) Lagoon sediment transport. The significant effect of Callianassa bioturbation. Proc 4th Int Coral Reef Symp 1:459–465
Sano M, Shimizu M, Nose Y (1984) Changes in the structure of coral reef fish communities by destruction of hermatypic corals: observational and experimental views. Pac Sci 38:51–79
Schönberger G (1989) Die rezenten Riffe der Pangasian-Halbinsel, N-Luzon/Philippinen. Documenta naturea, München, pp 48–150
Stoddart DR (1974) Post-hurricane changes on the British Honduras reefs: resurvey of 1972. Proc 2nd Int Coral Reef Symp 2:473–483
Talbot FH, Talbot MS (1971) The crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster) and the Great Barrier Reef. Endeavour 30:38–42
Tudhope AW, Scoffin TP (1984) The effect of Callianassa bioturbation on the preservation of carbonate grains in Davies Reef lagoon, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. J Sediment Petrol 54:1091–1096
Walbran PD, Henderson RA, Faithful JW, Polach HA, Sparks RJ, Wallace G, Lowe DC (1989a) Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on the Great Barrier Reef: a geological perspective based upon the sediment record. Coral Reefs 8:67–78
Walbran PD, Henderson RA, Jull AJT, Head MJ (1989b) Evidence from sediments of long-term Acanthaster planci predation on corals of the Great Barrier Reef. Science 245:847–850
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fabricius, K.E., Fabricius, F.H. Re-assessment of ossicle frequency patterns in sediment cores: rate of sedimentation related to Acanthaster planci . Coral Reefs 11, 109–114 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00357431
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00357431