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Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Coral Reef Arks: An In Situ Mesocosm and Toolkit for Assembling Reef Communities
Published on: January 6, 2023
Grooves in forereefs act as transport channels to deliver coral rubble during tropical cyclones
Ana Vila-Concejo1,2, Lachlan A Perris1,2, Ana Paula da Silva1,2
1Geocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney Faculty of Science, Australia.
Abstract:
The long-term stability of coral reef islands and associated reef top sedimentary landforms requires the delivery of sediment from the forereef, but the rates and pathways of sediment delivery to these systems remain unclear. Spurs and grooves (SAGs) are ubiquitous geomorphic features fringing coral reefs, characterised by shore-normal coral ridges (spurs) separated by channels (grooves) with either bare substrate or a relatively low sediment infill. SAGs dissipate wave energy, facilitate offshore sediment transport and enhance nutrient exchange. Here we present the first evidence that SAG can also act as channels for onshore transport of rubble during high-energy events, contributing to maintaining reef islands and rubble-based ecosystems.
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