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Corals and reefs as indicators of paleo-sea levels with special reference to the Great Barrier Reef

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Sea-Level Research

Abstract

Coral reefs are built by and contain a large range of plants and animals, many of which have a specific relationship to sea level. However, the main framework builders, scleractinian corals, have a wide range of depths down to about 40 m in which they can grow. Their upper limit, however, is determined by emersion and is normally close to mean low water springs. Where reef tops are moated behind shingle ramparts or algal ridges this level may be raised, even above mean sea level. The micro-atoll colonial morphology is indicative of a moated situation. Corals also contain internal evidence of their growth environment which may be determined by careful analysis. Similarly, with careful choice and preparation of samples, corals provide excellent material for a variety of radiometric dating techniques.

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  1. Free University, Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Orson van de Plassche

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Hopley, D. (1986). Corals and reefs as indicators of paleo-sea levels with special reference to the Great Barrier Reef. In: van de Plassche, O. (eds) Sea-Level Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4215-8_8

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