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National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed at the Flower Garden Banks in 2015 and Retrieved in 2019 (NCEI Accession 0266709)

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The calcification rate data described here are from calcification accretion units (CAUs) that have been retrieved (and replaced) at existing, long-term monitoring sites during the NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) led NCRMP missions at the Flower Garden Banks in 2015 and 2019 and processed at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. CAUs are PVC settlement plates that facilitate the recruitment and colonization of crustose coralline algae, hard corals, and other reef calcifiers. Laboratory experiments show that CCA and coral calcification rates are strongly correlated with seawater chemistry, and shifts in carbonate chemistry conditions due to ocean acidification could lead to reduced calcification and accretion rates and ecological phase shifts in coral reef communities.

Coral reef calcium carbonate accretion rates can be estimated by measuring the change in weight of the CAUs between deployment and retrieval. Monitoring net accretion over successive deployments allows for the detection of changes in reef calcification rates over time. Five units were deployed on the seafloor at each CAU site for 4 years. The number of processed CAUs for a site may be less than the number deployed, either because the units were lost or damaged at sea and therefore not recovered, or in rare instances, due to errors during laboratory processing.

This study provides information about spatial and temporal patterns of reef carbonate calcification and accretion rates and serves as a basis for detecting changes associated with changing seawater chemistry due to ocean acidification. These data can also be used in comparative analyses across natural gradients, thereby assisting efforts to determine whether key reef-building taxa can acclimatize to changing oceanographic environments. These data will have immediate, direct impacts on predictions of reef resilience in a higher carbon dioxide (CO2) world and on the design of reef management strategies.
  • Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (2022). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed at the Flower Garden Banks in 2015 and Retrieved in 2019 (NCEI Accession 0266709). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0266709. In Luers, Lori; NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed at the Flower Garden Banks in 2015 and Retrieved in 2019. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NCRMP-CAU-FGB. Accessed [date].
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2015-06-01 to 2019-06-03
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -93.59925
East: -93.59925
South: 27.9074
North: 27.9074
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed at the Flower Garden Banks in 2015 and Retrieved in 2019
  • Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2022: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed at the Flower Garden Banks from 2015 to 2019, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67510.
    • https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67510
      Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2022: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed at the Flower Garden Banks from 2015 to 2019 from 2010-06-15 to 2010-08-15. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67510.
  • Coral Reef Conservation Program (2016). Documentation for NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) data archived at NCEI (NCEI Accession 0157633). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0157633.
  • Price, N. N., Martz, T. R., Brainard, R. E., & Smith, J. E. (2012). Diel Variability in Seawater pH Relates to Calcification and Benthic Community Structure on Coral Reefs. PLoS ONE, 7(8), e43843. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0043843
    • Parent ID (indicates this dataset is related to other data):
    • gov.noaa.nodc:NCRMP-CAU-FGB
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2022-12-20
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose CAU data collected as part of NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) missions can be used to establish calcium carbonate accretion rate baselines and assess change in reef accretion rates due to ocean acidification and other environmental drivers. The NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) details a long-term, ecosystem-scale approach for assessing coral reef climate, fish, benthic, and socioeconomic variables in a consistent and integrated manner. NCRMP coordinates various NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) biological, physical, and human dimensions activities into a cohesive NOAA-wide effort. Through the implementation of NCRMP, NOAA is able to clearly and concisely communicate results of national-scale monitoring to national, state, and territorial policy makers, resource managers, and the public on a periodic basis. NCRMP provides a framework for conducting sustained observations of biological, climate, and socioeconomic indicators at 10 priority coral reefs across the U.S. and its territories. This integrated approach consolidates monitoring of coral reefs under a uniform method in the Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico. NCRMP is funded by the CRCP and the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP), and supported by NOAA Fisheries, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), NOAA Coral Reef Watch, and many other partners. The Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) at NOAA Fisheries leads in-situ NCRMP climate monitoring in the U.S. Atlantic Regions. The climate component of NCRMP in the Atlantic provides a comprehensive view of climate change impacts on coral reef ecosystems and helps identify areas of resilience and vulnerability. The key indicators used to identify and monitor climate-driven trends include 1) thermal stress caused by changes in sea temperature, 2) ocean acidification resulting from changes in carbonate chemistry, and 3) associated ecological impacts on carbonate accretion rates, erosion, and benthic community structure. AOML scientists during Atlantic NCRMP missions deploy oceanographic (subsurface temperature recorders) and ecological (calcification accretion units [CAUs] and bioerosion monitoring units [BMUs]) instruments at fixed sites in the Atlantic Ocean and conduct CTD casts and water sampling to evaluate coral reef environments. The in-situ data and satellite-based observations are also used in modeling efforts. Innovative analysis techniques are used to develop products that provide scientists, managers, decision makers and the public a better understanding of a region's resources and how they are changing over time.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (2022). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed at the Flower Garden Banks in 2015 and Retrieved in 2019 (NCEI Accession 0266709). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0266709. In Luers, Lori; NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed at the Flower Garden Banks in 2015 and Retrieved in 2019. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NCRMP-CAU-FGB. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Principal Investigators
Collaborators
Contributors
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Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Funding Agency: US DOC; NOAA; NOS; Coral Reef Conservation Program
  • Funding Agency: US DOC; NOAA; OAR; Ocean Acidification Program
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
  • Numeric Data Sets > Calcification Rate
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Algal Cover
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Algal Growth > Calcification Rate
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Calcareous Macroalgae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Crustose Coralline Algae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Encrusting Macroalgae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Fleshy Macroalgae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Reef Monitoring and Assessment
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Calcification Accretion Unit (CAU)
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > Calcification
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > Carbonate Chemistry
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > Ocean Acidification
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Contributing Organizations
  • CRED
  • CREP
  • Coral Reef Ecosystem Division
  • Coral Reef Ecosystem Program
  • ESD
  • Ecosystem Sciences Division
  • PIFSC
  • Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Instrument keywords Provider Instruments
  • calcification accretion unit (CAU)
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS CoRIS Place Thesaurus
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Texas > East Flower Garden Banks (27N093W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Gulf of Mexico > Flower Garden Banks > East Flower Garden Banks (27N093W0001)
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Project keywords NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS CRCP Project
  • 743
  • National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP)
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Keywords Send2NCEI Submission Package ID
  • G6RNYG
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (2022). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed at the Flower Garden Banks in 2015 and Retrieved in 2019 (NCEI Accession 0266709). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0266709. In Luers, Lori; NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed at the Flower Garden Banks in 2015 and Retrieved in 2019. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NCRMP-CAU-FGB. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
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Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2022-12-20T21:36:43Z - NCEI Accession 0266709 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: CALCIFICATION (measured); Units: gram/centimeter/year; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: calcification accretion unit (CAU); Sampling and Analyzing Method: Assembled calcification accretion units (CAUs) are attached to the benthos using stainless steel threaded rods. Five CAUs are deployed in roughly 15m depths at permanent monitoring sites established by the NOAA Fisheries, Ecosystem Sciences Division. Calcareous organisms, primarily crustose coralline algae and encrusting corals, recruit to these CAUs and accrete/calcify carbonate skeletons over 4 year deployments. Once recovered from the seafloor, the CAUs are processed to provide estimates of net calcification. CAUs have been deployed and replaced at existing, long-term monitoring sites during National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) cruises, in accordance with protocols developed by Price et al. 2012.; Data Quality Method: Prior to processing the calcification accretion unit (CAU) samples, laboratory analysts are trained to properly use relevant lab equipment (analytical balance, vacuum filtration pump, etc.) and are familiarized with the data entry tool/spreadsheet. Laboratory analysts are also required to go through the CAU Processing Standard Operating Procedure and other training materials..
Last Modified: 2024-09-17T19:17:30Z
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