Outlook Online 2009

Vulnerability of microbes on the Great Barrier Reef to climate change

Webster and Hill, 2007:

"The projected increases in sea temperature, ocean acidification and terrestrial input are likely to be the primary climate change factors that will significantly impact marine microbial assemblages. The predicted impacts of these environmental shifts include changes to microbial community composition and function that may have significant implications for cycling within the microbial loop, recruitment, symbiotic relationships and disease. These are likely to have flow-on effects to higher trophic levels in the tropical marine ecosystem."

Figure 5.4: Potential productivity scenarios associated with climate change conditions.

Productivity scenarios diagram

Citation and/or URL

Webster, N. and Hill, R. 2007, Vulnerability of marine microbes on the Great Barrier Reef to climate change, In: Climate change and the Great Barrier Reef: a vulnerability assessment, eds J.E. Johnson & P.A. Marshall, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Australian Greenhouse Office, Townsville, Australia, p. 97-120

Spatial Coverage

All of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park as well as adjacent catchments.

Temporal Coverage

This volume is a compilation of information collected from  many sources and spanning many time frames.

Update Frequency

Not applicable as this report is a compilation.

Other Information

None

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