The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Evaluating coral proxy fidelity at monthly resolution in urban reefs: A 20-year δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C comparison of Psammocora and Porites
ID:1518 Oral Presentation

2027-01-14 14:00 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 17 - Modern and past processes of ocean-atmosphere-climate interactions in the low-latitude Pacific and Indian Ocean

Abstract
Urbanized reef environments pose challenges for coral-based paleoclimate reconstructions. Here, we test the hypothesis that Psammocora digitata preserves reproducible δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C signals comparable to those of conventional coral archives (e.g., massive Porites) under urban conditions. We present monthly-resolved δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C records spanning 20 years, from two Psammocora digitata corals (SG1, SG2) and one Porites core (SG3) collected from a turbid nearshore reef in Singapore. All three records show clear seasonal cycles, with the Psammocora exhibiting higher intra-coral reproducibility. SG1 and SG2 share identical δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C means, variances, and seasonal amplitudes, consistent with their similar hydrographic conditions at ~3 m depth. The shallower Porites core (SG3, ~2 m) is offset toward lower δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values and displays reduced δ¹⁸O seasonal amplitude, reflecting species-specific baselines. Seasonal δ¹⁸O variability is primarily driven by salinity (~60%), with temperature exerting a smaller influence (~40%). SG1 and SG2 show δ¹⁸O amplitudes of ~1.8‰, whereas Porites coral SG3 records a smaller amplitude (~1.2‰) consistent with its lower variance. δ¹³C exhibits larger overall variability (standard deviations 0.65–0.71‰; seasonal amplitudes ~3.0–3.9‰), responding to changes in underwater light, turbidity, colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), ambient δ¹³C of dissolved inorganic carbon (δ¹³CDIC), and minor colony-level physiological effects. In each coral, δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C show significant positive correlations (r = 0.59–0.68), reflecting shared environmental drivers, including freshwater input or seasonal hydrological variability, rather than colony-specific metabolic effects. Taken together, these results show that Psammocora can provide robust, monthly-resolution isotopic records suitable for reconstructing coastal hydroclimate and biogeochemical variability.
 
Speaker
Ke Lin Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University

Author
Ke Lin Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Session acceptance notifications

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions & registration open

    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

      Abstract acceptance notifications

    • Sep 15

      2026

      Scientific program released

    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027