Reolid, Jesus, Bialik, Or M., Lindhorst, Sebastian, Eisermann, Jan Oliver, Petrovic, Alexander, Hincke, Carola, Beaman, Robin J., Webster, Jody M., and Betzler, Christian (2024) A new type of Halimeda bioherm on the Queensland Plateau, NE Australia. Coral Reefs, 2024. (In Press)

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Abstract

Morphology, internal structure, and in situ facies distribution of mesophotic Halimeda bioherms from the Queensland Plateau (NE Australia) are presented based on hydroacoustic and oceanographic data, seafloor observations, and discrete sediment sampling carried out during RV SONNE cruise SO292 in 2022. Halimeda buildups consist of cone-like mounds up to 500 m in diameter and 3–10 m high, with gentle slopes (2°–5° on the top of Tregrosse Bank). Bioherms occur in water depths of 10–70 m, with most bioherm between 50 and 65 m. Their internal structure consists of aggrading low-amplitude reflections at the core of the bioherm interfingering with high-amplitude reflections to the flanks. Surface facies distribution displays one to four facies belts, from distal to proximal: Halimeda rudstone, Halimeda rudstone with living plants, Halimeda rudstone with coralgal debris, and coralgal boundstone (when present, occupied the top of the bioherms). It is proposed that the alternation of two key processes contributes to the formation of these bioherms: (1) in situ accumulation of Halimeda debris and (2) episodic dismantling of the mesophotic coralgal boundstone at the centre of the bioherm by severe storms. These storms may dismantle the mesophotic reef and export coralgal rubble to the flanks. Flanks may be recolonized by Halimeda during fair-weather periods. Due to their different geomorphic expressions, complex internal structure, and surficial facies distribution, we suggest that the buildups of the Queensland Plateau represent a new Halimeda bioherm morphotype, distinct from previously described bioherms on the adjacent Great Barrier Reef and elsewhere globally.

Item ID:	82925
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1432-0975
Copyright Information:	© The Author(s) 2024. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Date Deposited:	11 Jun 2024 02:01
FoR Codes:	37 EARTH SCIENCES > 3705 Geology > 370504 Marine geoscience @ 60% 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 40%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180504 Marine biodiversity @ 100%
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