The Role of Dimethylsulphide, and other Sulphur Substances, on the Climate and Ecology of Coral Reefs

About this Research Topic

Background

Coral reefs are significant sources of dimethylsulphide or DMS, a volatile sulphur compound that is reputed to form low-level clouds over reefs, thus affecting solar radiation, sea surface temperatures, rainfall, and climate of these unique ecosystems. Whilst ground-breaking research on DMS in coral reefs has occurred, the goal of this special topic is to highlight more recent research on the climatic and ecological role of DMS and other sulphur substances in tropical coral reef environments. This is particularly urgent In view of mass coral bleaching episodes in the last few years, where the effect of DMS-produced aerosols on solar radiation needs to be assessed.

An important goal of this special issue is to highlight research on DMS and its effect on solar radiation, SSTs, cloud formation and the radiative climate over coral reefs, and examine links with ENSO events. Acropora coral produce atmospheric DMS which is available for low-level cloud formation, with molecular dating research indicating that the Acropora ancestor survived warm periods from the mid or late Cretaceous to the early Eocene by enhancing cloud formation. Consequently Acropora coral may have survived warmer marine environments in the past. However, research indicates that when SSTs are greater than 30 °C, Acropora shut down the production of atmospheric DMS. This shutdown in atmospheric DMS production can decrease low-level cloud formation, increasing solar radiation and seawater temperatures causing corals to bleach. In the ecological area, the DMS precursor dimethylsulphoniopropionate or DMSP has been proposed as a chemo-attractant that can be used for structuring coral-associated bacterial communities. These substances affect seabird, fish, and turtle behaviour, and are reputed to affect coral spawning and the genesis of reefs. Early Polynesians used low-level cloud formation over reefs to assist their navigation skills, suggesting that the coral reef-DMS-low cloud feedback over reefs has been part of the fabric of coral reefs for millennia.



High-quality original research articles, case studies, and review articles covering atmospheric science, remote sensing, marine biogeochemistry, coral ecology, oceanography, microbiology and ethnobiology, new techniques, and other related areas of the DMS cycle, and other S-substances in coral reef environments, are now sought for inclusion in this Research Topic.



This Research Topic is divided into four areas.



- DMS and the Radiative Climate over Coral Reefs, specifically looking at DMS and DMSP production in coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef, western and central Pacific, the DMS-Aerosol-Cloud Cover-SST feedback, and its potential effect on the radiative climate over reefs, and links to ENSO events (Area 1).



- Remote sensing of aerosols, CCN, AOD, SST, coral bleaching etc., (Area 2).



- Microbiology of DMS (P) in Corals (Area 3).



- DMS (P) as a chemo-attractant, stress indicator and navigational aid in coral reefs (Area 4).

Keywords: Dimethylsulphide, DMS, Coral Reefs, Aerosols, Cloud Formation, Climate Feedback, Solar Radiation, Seawater Temperatures, Remote Sensing, Coral Bleaching, Ecological Behaviour, Chemo-attractants, Pacific Navigation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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