Data from: Bio-physical determinants of sediment accumulation on an offshore coral reef: a snapshot study

This data record contains data associated with the publication:Tebbett SB, Schlaefer JA, Bowden CL, Collins WP, Hemingson CR, Ling SD, Morais J, Morais RA, Siqueira AC, Streit RP, Swan S, Bellwood DR (2023) Bio-physical determinants of sediment accumulation on an offshore coral reef: a snapshot study. Science of the Total Environment 895: 165188 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165188In this study we examined the nature of sediment accumulation on a coral reef, with particular focus on sediments in algal turfs. The study was conducted at Lizard Island, a mid-shelf reef on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The study focused on a cross-habitat/depth comparison of sediment dynamics and associated bio-physical drivers over a short temporal snapshot (6-days). A study site between Bird and South Island was established, with three transects ~25 m apart that were parallel to each other across the windward reef profile. These transects extended from the back reef, across the flat to the outer-reef flat/crest at 3 m and then at 4.5, 6, 9, and 12 m down the reef slope. The sampling was particularly focused on the 3-12 m reef section, while sampling across other habitats was conducted to place the results of this intensely sampled reef section into a broader spatial context. The data analysed in this study on sediment dynamics included sediment accumulation rates as measured by TurfPods, sediment trapping rates as measured by sediment traps, sediment standing stock in algal turfs measured using vacuum sampling, and turbidity measurements from a Seapoint Tu sensor. The biophysical drivers quantified included water current speed and direction using Marrotte HS drag-tilt current meters, wave pressure using RBRsolo3 pressure sensors, and parrotfish sediment reworking based on underwater visual censuses of the herbivorous fish community along 50 m transects. CSV file 1 contains the raw data measured from TurfPods and Sediment traps. CSV file 2 contains the raw data on turf particulate loads measured using vacuum sampling. CSV file 3 contains the raw abundance data for the nominally herbivorous fish community. CSV file 4 contains the raw pressure sensor data. CSV file 5 contains the raw turbidity data from the Seapoint Tu sensor drops. CSV File 6 contains the raw current meter data. For full methodological details please see the published manuscript and associated supporting information (outlined above).