Articles | Volume 20, issue 20
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-4339-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-4339-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
24 Oct 2023
Research article |
| 24 Oct 2023
| 24 Oct 2023
Mobilisation thresholds for coral rubble and consequences for windows of reef recovery
Tania M. Kenyon
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
Daniel Harris
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
Tom Baldock
School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
David Callaghan
School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
Christopher Doropoulos
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, St. Lucia, Australia
Gregory Webb
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
Steven P. Newman
Banyan Tree Marine Laboratory, Vabbinfaru, North Malé Atoll, Maldives
Peter J. Mumby
Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
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Total article views: 1,953 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
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Cited
21 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Remnant hollowed out dead coral skeleton branches defer coral community recovery K. Scafidi et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0339527
- Conceptualizing social risk in relation to climate change and assisted ecosystem adaptation S. Lockie et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.17635
- Trajectories and agents of binding in stabilized and unstabilized coral rubble across environmental gradients T. Kenyon et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70195
- Prolonged instability in blast-fished rubble beds impedes coral recovery S. Samudra et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107479
- Threshold velocities for coral rubble bind breakage across varying reef environments T. Kenyon et al. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14982
- Experimental investigation on cross-shore profile evolution of reef-fronted beach Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2024.104653
- How do the Australian public perceive the risks and benefits of novel restoration and adaptation interventions on coral reefs? C. Demeter et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147041
- Bio-degradable ‘reef bags’ used for rubble stabilisation and their impact on rubble stability, binding, coral recruitment and fish occupancy T. Kenyon et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107433
- Internal hydrodynamics within the skeleton of Acropora pulchra coral Y. Tian et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.111742
- From rubble to reef: ecological transformation in volcanic rock-assisted coral restoration X. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-025-5104-2
- Investigating coral rubble dynamics through tilting base and flume experiments W. Deng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2025.104931
- Biophysical drivers of coral survival and growth: taxon-specific responses under varying local conditions C. Castro-Sanguino et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-026-02894-z
- Current velocity, water quality, and benthic taxa as predictors for coral recruitment rates on the Great Barrier Reef M. Drake et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319521
- Multi-scale observations during the 2024 mass coral bleaching event on Heron Reef, Australia D. Rowell et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-025-04759-5
- How do members of the public feel about novel ecosystem interventions? A longitudinal study of emotional responses to restoration and adaptation in the Great Barrier Reef R. Dadpour et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-025-02329-z
- Public support for novel interventions to protect, restore, and accelerate adaptation to climate change in the Great Barrier Reef H. Bartelet et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2024.107489
- The spatial risk of cyclone wave damage across the Great Barrier Reef M. Cheung et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2025.103175
- Material Legacies on Coral Reefs: Rubble Length and Bed Thickness Are Key Drivers of Rubble Bed Recovery T. Kenyon et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17574
- Species composition and long-term dynamics of coral reef fishes at Meiji Reef, Nansha Islands H. Xie et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104497
- Effects of Environmental and Climatic Changes on Coral Reef Islands P. Kench https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-032223-030921
- Morphologically driven sedimentation patterns on a coral reef G. Sartori et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-025-02629-6
21 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Remnant hollowed out dead coral skeleton branches defer coral community recovery K. Scafidi et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0339527
- Conceptualizing social risk in relation to climate change and assisted ecosystem adaptation S. Lockie et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.17635
- Trajectories and agents of binding in stabilized and unstabilized coral rubble across environmental gradients T. Kenyon et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70195
- Prolonged instability in blast-fished rubble beds impedes coral recovery S. Samudra et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107479
- Threshold velocities for coral rubble bind breakage across varying reef environments T. Kenyon et al. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14982
- Experimental investigation on cross-shore profile evolution of reef-fronted beach Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2024.104653
- How do the Australian public perceive the risks and benefits of novel restoration and adaptation interventions on coral reefs? C. Demeter et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147041
- Bio-degradable ‘reef bags’ used for rubble stabilisation and their impact on rubble stability, binding, coral recruitment and fish occupancy T. Kenyon et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107433
- Internal hydrodynamics within the skeleton of Acropora pulchra coral Y. Tian et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.111742
- From rubble to reef: ecological transformation in volcanic rock-assisted coral restoration X. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-025-5104-2
- Investigating coral rubble dynamics through tilting base and flume experiments W. Deng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2025.104931
- Biophysical drivers of coral survival and growth: taxon-specific responses under varying local conditions C. Castro-Sanguino et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-026-02894-z
- Current velocity, water quality, and benthic taxa as predictors for coral recruitment rates on the Great Barrier Reef M. Drake et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319521
- Multi-scale observations during the 2024 mass coral bleaching event on Heron Reef, Australia D. Rowell et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-025-04759-5
- How do members of the public feel about novel ecosystem interventions? A longitudinal study of emotional responses to restoration and adaptation in the Great Barrier Reef R. Dadpour et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-025-02329-z
- Public support for novel interventions to protect, restore, and accelerate adaptation to climate change in the Great Barrier Reef H. Bartelet et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2024.107489
- The spatial risk of cyclone wave damage across the Great Barrier Reef M. Cheung et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2025.103175
- Material Legacies on Coral Reefs: Rubble Length and Bed Thickness Are Key Drivers of Rubble Bed Recovery T. Kenyon et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17574
- Species composition and long-term dynamics of coral reef fishes at Meiji Reef, Nansha Islands H. Xie et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104497
- Effects of Environmental and Climatic Changes on Coral Reef Islands P. Kench https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-032223-030921
- Morphologically driven sedimentation patterns on a coral reef G. Sartori et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-025-02629-6
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 09 Jun 2026
Short summary
The movement of rubble on coral reefs can lead to persistent unstable rubble beds that hinder reef recovery. To identify where such rubble beds are, we need to know the minimum velocity that will move rubble. We found that loose rubble had a 50 % chance of being moved when near-bed wave orbital velocities reached ~0.3 m s−1; rubble moved more if pieces were small and had no branches. Rubble beds that experience frequent movement would be good candidates for rubble stabilisation interventions.
The movement of rubble on coral reefs can lead to persistent unstable rubble beds that hinder...
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