Profile
The production and maintenance of complex calcium carbonate structure is a critical function of a healthy coral reef. It provides habitat for numerous marine species and acts as a breakwater that dissipates wave energy and protects shorelines. The build-up of reef framework, or a reef’s carbonate budget, is driven by counteracting rates of calcium carbonate production (i.e., calcification) and calcium carbonate breakdown and loss (i.e., dissolution, bioerosion, off-reef transport). Disturbances to this fragile balance can have disastrous effects on a reef’s geo-ecological functions.
Besides tracking the process of degradation and recovery of the reef structure and its functions over time, I quantify rates of calcification (e.g., coral growth, crustose coralline algal calcification) and bioerosion (e.g., endolithic erosion, parrotfish erosion) specific to the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). This enables me to improve local budget estimates and to support other indicators of functional reef health.
In collaboration with other BIOT researchers I am also comparing different approaches to quantify reef growth and reef loss processes in order to extend the applications of carbonate budget states.
Coral reefs worldwide are deteriorating at an alarming rate. It is more vital than ever to monitor, predict and protect reef health and reef functions to aid their survival.
Biography
My Project
Other interests
I am generally interested in the response of coral reef ecosystems to high natural variability in environmental conditions and anthropogenic disturbances. To investigate these questions I look at ecological, physiological and geomorphological parameters.
I love to use diving as a tool for science and also try to improve my underwater photography skills.
My Publications
A Review of a Decade of Lessons From One of the World’s Largest MPAs: Conservation Gains and Key Challenges
Hays, G.C., Koldewey, H.J., Andrzejaczek, S., Attrill, M.J., Barley, S., Bayley, D.T.I., Benkwitt, C.E., Block, B., Schallert, R.J., Carlisle, A., Carr, P., Chapple, T.K., Collins, C., Diaz, C., Dunn, N., Dunbar, R.B., Eager, D.S., Engel, J., Embling, C.B., Esteban, N., Ferretti, F., Foster, N.L., Freeman, R., Gollock, M., Graham, N.A.J., Harris, J.L., Head, C.E.I, Hosegood, P., Howell, K.L., Hussey, N.E., Jacoby, D.M.P., Jones, R., Pilly, J.S., Lange, I.D., Letessier, T.B., Levy, E., Lindhart, M., McDevitt-Irwin, J.M., Meekan, M., Meeuwig, J.J., Micheli, F., Mogg, A., Mortimer, J.A., Mucciarone, D.A., Nicoll, M.A., Nuno, A., Perry, C., Preston, S.G., Rattray, A.J., Robinson, E., Roche, R., Schiele, M., Sheehan, E.V., Sheppard, A., Sheppard, C., Smith, A.L., Soule, B., Spalding, M., Stevens, G.M.W., Steyaert, M., Stiffel, S., Taylor, B.M., Tickler, D., Trevail, A.M., Trueba, P., Turner, J., Votier, S., Wilson, B., Williams, G., Williamson, B., Williamson, M.J., Wood, H. and Curnick, D.J. (2020) A review of a decade of lessons from one of the world’s largest MPAs: conservation gains and key challenges. Marine Biology.
Site-Level Variation in Parrotfish Grazing and Bioerosion as a Function of Species-Specific Feeding Metrics
Lange, I.D., Perry, C.T., Morgan, K.M., Roche, R., Benkwitt, C.E. and Graham, N.A.J. (2020) Site-level variation in parrotfish grazing and bioerosion as a function of species-specific feed metrics. Diversity.
Bleaching-Driven Reef Community Shifts Drive Pulses of Increased Reef Sediment Generation
Perry, C.T., Morgan, K.M., Lange, I.D. and Yarlett, R.T. (2020) Bleaching-driven reef community shifts drive pulses of increased reef sediment generation. Royal Society Open Science. 7:192153.
A Quick, Easy and Non-Invasive Method to Quantify Coral Growth Rates Using Photogrammetry and 3D Model Comparisons
Lange, I.D. and Perry, C.T. (2020) A quick, easy and non-invasive method to quantify coral growth rates using photogrammetry and 3D model comparisons. Methods in Ecology and Evolution.
Bleaching Impacts on Carbonate Production in the Chagos Archipelago: Influence of Functional Coral Groups on Carbonate Budget Trajectories
Lange, I. D., & Perry, C. T. (2019). Bleaching impacts on carbonate production in the Chagos Archipelago: influence of functional coral groups on carbonate budget trajectories. Coral Reefs, 1-6.