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Holocene reef evolution in a macrotidal setting: Buccaneer Archipelago, Kimberley Bioregion, Northwest Australia

Coral Reefs volume 35, pages 783–794 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

This study uses information derived from cores to describe the Holocene accretion history of coral reefs in the macrotidal (up to 11 m tidal range) Buccaneer Archipelago of the southern Kimberley coast, Western Australia. The internal architecture of all cored reefs is broadly similar, constituting well-preserved detrital coral fragments, predominantly branching Acropora, in a poorly sorted sandy mud matrix. However, once the reefs reach sea level, they diverge into two types: low intertidal reefs that maintain their detrital character and develop relatively narrow, horizontal or gently sloping reef flats at approximately mean low water spring, and high intertidal reefs that develop broad coralline algal-dominated reef flats at elevations between mean low water neap and mean high water neap. The high intertidal reefs develop where strong, ebb-dominated, tidal asymmetry retains seawater over the low tide and allows continued accretion. Both reef types are ultimately constrained by sea level but differ in elevation by 3–4 m.

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Acknowledgments

The Kimberley Reef Geomorphology Project 1.3.1 was funded by the Western Australian State Government and partners of the Western Australian Marine Science Institution. This research was assisted by the Bardi Jawi and Mayala people through their advice and consent to access their traditional lands. The Kimberley Marine Research Station at Cygnet Bay provided vessel support and access to research facilities. Thanks to Giada Bufarale for assistance with subsurface interpretations and to Alexandra Stevens for improvement of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Geology, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia

    Tubagus Solihuddin, Moataz Kordi & Lindsay B. Collins

  2. The Western Australian Marine Science Institution, Floreat, 6014, Australia

    Tubagus Solihuddin, Michael J. O’Leary, Moataz Kordi & Lindsay B. Collins

  3. Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia

    Michael J. O’Leary

  4. Fathom 5 Marine Research, 17 Staines Street, Lathlain, WA, 6100, Australia

    David Blakeway

  5. Centre for Marine Science and Technology, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia

    Iain Parnum

Authors
  1. Tubagus Solihuddin
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  2. Michael J. O’Leary
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  3. David Blakeway
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  4. Iain Parnum
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  5. Moataz Kordi
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  6. Lindsay B. Collins
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Correspondence to Tubagus Solihuddin.

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Communicated by Geology Editor Prof. Chris Perry

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Solihuddin, T., O’Leary, M.J., Blakeway, D. et al. Holocene reef evolution in a macrotidal setting: Buccaneer Archipelago, Kimberley Bioregion, Northwest Australia. Coral Reefs 35, 783–794 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-016-1424-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-016-1424-1

Keywords

  • Reef geomorphology
  • Holocene reef growth
  • Sea level
  • Rhodoliths
  • Coralline algal reefs