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Holocene aggradation of the Dry Tortugas coral reef ecosystem

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Abstract

Radiometric age dating of reef cores acquired at the Dry Tortugas coral reef ecosystem (DTCRE) was merged with lidar topographic mapping to examine Holocene reef development linked to spatial variation in growth and erosion under the control of sea level. Analysis of variance of lidar topography confirmed the presence of three distinct terraces on all three major DTCRE banks (Loggerhead Bank, Garden Bank, and Pulaski Bank). Reef building on the middle terrace (T2) began atop Pleistocene edifices on Loggerhead Bank by 8.0 ka (thousands of years ago) and on Garden Bank by 7.2 ka at elevations of about −16.0 m and −11.9 m, respectively, relative to present mean sea level. Following this initiation at different elevations, T2 aggraded vertically on both banks at different rates during the early Holocene under foundering conditions until a highstand at 5.2 ka, resulting in a 2.21 m offset in present mean T2 elevation between these banks. Initiation of an upper terrace (T1) occurred on both Loggerhead Bank and Garden Bank in association with sea-level fall to a lowstand at near 4.8 ka. This upper terrace initiated on Garden Bank at about 5.0 ka and then grew upward at rate of 2.5 mm year−1 until approximately 3.8 ka. On Loggerhead Bank, the upper T1 terrace formed after 4.5 ka at a higher vertical aggradation rate of 4.1 mm year−1, but at a lower elevation than on Garden Bank. Terrace T1 aggraded on Loggerhead Bank below the elevation of lowstands during late Holocene sea-level oscillation, and consequently erosion on Loggerhead Bank was minimal and likely limited to the crest of the upper terrace. In contrast, after 3.8 ka terrace T1 on Garden Bank likely tracked sea level and consequently underwent erosion when sea level fell to second, third and fourth lowstands at 3.3, 1.1, and 0.3 ka.

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Acknowledgments

L. Travers, B. Boynton, T.D. Hickey, and T. Burress are gratefully acknowledged for assistance in the preparation of figures, core sample preparation, and reference searching. J. Brock thanks B. Lidz, C. Reich, K. Tedesco, and T. Burress for quite useful reviews of an earlier version of this manuscript. The authors thank V. Rabine for his dedication and skill as the Chief Pilot of the Cessna 310 aircraft used for the NASA EAARL lidar overflights of the Dry Tortugas while Hurricane Charley approached. The USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program funded this investigation as a component of the Decision Support for Coastal Parks and Sanctuaries Project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20192, USA

    J. C. Brock

  2. USGS Coastal and Marine Science Center, 600 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA

    M. Palaseanu-Lovejoy, R. Z. Poore, A. Nayegandhi & C. W. Wright

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  1. J. C. Brock
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  2. M. Palaseanu-Lovejoy
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  3. R. Z. Poore
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  4. A. Nayegandhi
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Correspondence to J. C. Brock.

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Communicated by Geology Editor Prof. Bernhard Riegl

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Brock, J.C., Palaseanu-Lovejoy, M., Poore, R.Z. et al. Holocene aggradation of the Dry Tortugas coral reef ecosystem. Coral Reefs 29, 857–868 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-010-0658-6

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