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National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification rates of crustose coralline algae derived from calcification accretion units (CAUs) deployed in the Florida Reef Tract

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The calcification rate data described here are from in-house developed calcification accretion units (CAUs) deployed by scuba divers in the Florida Reef Tract, in accordance with protocols developed by Price et al.(2012), and as a part of NOAA's ongoing National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP).

CAUs allow for recruitment and colonization of Crustose Corraline Algae and hard corals. By measuring the change in weight of the CAUs, the reef carbonate accretion rate can be calculated for that time period. Monitoring net accretion over successive deployments allows for the detection of changes in calcification rates over time.

This study provides information about spatial patterns of algal 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 (2018). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification rates of crustose coralline algae derived from calcification accretion units (CAUs) deployed in the Florida Reef Tract. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/rk8h-t126. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:NCRMP-CAU-Florida
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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 2014-03-15 to Present
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -80.618
East: -80.618
South: 24.8975
North: 24.8975
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2018-09-12
  • revision: 2022-09-28
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Supplemental Information
Accessions 0175693 and 0260075.

Calcification accretion units (CAUs) are used to assess the current effects of changes in seawater carbonate chemistry on calcification and accretion rates of calcareous and fleshy algae in the Hawaiian Archipelago as part of the ongoing NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP).

CAUs are composed of two 10 x 10 cm flat, square, gray PVC plates, stacked 1 cm apart, and are attached to the benthos using stainless steel threaded rods. Calcareous organisms, primarily crustose coralline algae and encrusting corals, recruit to these plates and accrete/calcify carbonate skeletons over 2-3 year deployments. By measuring the change in weight of the CAUs, the reef carbonate accretion rate can be calculated for that time period. Due to the simple, low-cost design and analysis, statistically robust numbers of calcification plates can easily be deployed, recovered, and processed to provide estimates of net calcification. Monitoring net accretion over successive deployments allows for the detection of changes in calcification rates over time.
Purpose CAUs are used to assess the current effects of changes in seawater carbonate chemistry on calcification and accretion rates of calcareous and fleshy algae as part of the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). Laboratory experiments reveal calcification rates of crustose coralline algae (CCA) are strongly correlated to seawater aragonite saturation state. Predictions of reduced coral calcification rates, due to ocean acidification, suggest that coral reef communities will undergo ecological phase shifts as calcifying organisms are negatively impacted by changing seawater chemistry. The NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) details a long term approach to provide an ecosystem perspective via monitoring climate, fish, benthic, and socioeconomic variables in a consistent and integrated manner. The NCRMP is intended to coordinate various NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) biological, physical, and human dimensions activities into a cohesive NOAA-wide effort. Through the implementation of the NCRMP, NOAA will be 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. To support a long-term Coral Reef Conservation Program for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, calcification and accretion rates of reef-building crustose coralline algae are measured in order to establish a baseline for change due to ocean acidification within the coral reef environments monitored through NCRMP.
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 (2018). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification rates of crustose coralline algae derived from calcification accretion units (CAUs) deployed in the Florida Reef Tract. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/rk8h-t126. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
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Acknowledgments
  • Related Funding Agency: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation 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 > Ocean Chemistry > Calcification
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > Carbonate Chemistry
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > Ocean Acidification
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Provider Keywords
  • Ocean Acidification
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Contributing Data Centers
  • AOML
  • Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Lab
  • Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
  • 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 NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Provider Instruments
  • CAU
  • Calcification Plate
  • Settling Plate
  • calcification accretion unit
  • calcification accretion unit (CAU)
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS CoRIS Place Thesaurus
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Florida > Florida Reef Tract (26N080W0007)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Florida > Monroe County (24N081W0020)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Florida > Monroe County > Cheeca Rocks (24N080W0009)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Florida > Monroe County > Dry Tortugas (24N082W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Florida > Monroe County > Islamorada (24N080W0004)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Florida > Upper Florida Keys (24N080W0018)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Florida Reef Tract (26N080W0007)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Florida Reef Tract > Dry Tortugas > Dry Tortugas (24N082W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Florida Reef Tract > Upper Florida Keys > Cheeca Rocks (24N080W0009)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Florida Reef Tract > Upper Florida Keys > Islamorada (24N080W0004)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Florida Reef Tract > Upper Florida Keys > Upper Florida Keys (24N080W0018)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Monroe County (24N081W0020)
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords Provider Place Names
  • Dry Tortugas National Park
Project keywords NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS CRCP Project
  • 743
  • National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP)
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (2018). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification rates of crustose coralline algae derived from calcification accretion units (CAUs) deployed in the Florida Reef Tract. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/rk8h-t126. 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: series
Processing Steps
  • 2018-09-20T21:30:06Z - NCEI Accession 0175693 v1.1 was published.
  • 2022-09-27T15:24:28Z - NCEI Accession 0175693 was revised and v2.2 was published.
  • 2022-09-28T20:29:46Z - NCEI Accession 0260075 v1.1 was published.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • laboratory analysis
  • scale
Last Modified: 2023-12-11T18:59:15Z
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