Eco-morphodynamics

Abstract

The formation and morphological adjustment of coral reefs and reef sedimentary landforms results from the dynamic interaction between biological and physical processes, which operate at a range of time and space scales. Eco-morphodynamics is a conceptual framework that identifies the major process response linkages between physical and biological processes which are responsible for the spatial and temporal dynamics of ecological communities, physical processes, and geomorphology (Figure 1). Central to the framework is the importance of the coral reef “carbonate factory” in providing the building blocks (skeletal material, sand, and gravels) for construction of reef landforms. The framework also highlights the multiple extrinsic and intrinsic factors that promote change in ecological, physical, and geomorphic processes and products in reef systems. Eco-morphodynamics provides a conceptual framework to explore: the sensitivity of landforms to perturbations in boundary conditions; thresholds and timescales of change; and feedbacks, temporal lags, and non-linearities in the linkages between the physical, ecological, and geological components of reef systems. Currently, these system sensitivities, thresholds, temporal lags, feedbacks, and timescales of relevance to reef geomorphic development and change are poorly resolved.