The Physiology of Skeleton Formation in Corals. I. A Method for Measuring the Rate of Calcium Deposition by Corals Under Different Conditions

Goreau, Thomas F.

doi:10.2307/1539156

Cited by 439 publications

(236 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Conversely, the concept of light-enhanced calcification has been well established (Kawaguti and Sakumoto 1948;Gordeau 1959;Goreau and Goreau 1959) and can increase coral calcification rates by three to ten times compared with rates in the dark Moya et al 2006). Light availability may also determine the susceptibility of reef building corals to pressures from OA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple driving factors explain spatial and temporal variability in coral calcification rates on the Bermuda platform

2014

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Experimental studies have shown that coral calcification rates are dependent on light, nutrients, food availability, temperature, and seawater aragonite saturation (X arag ), but the relative importance of each parameter in natural settings remains uncertain. In this study, we applied Calcein fluorescent dyes as time indicators within the skeleton of coral colonies (n = 3) of Porites astreoides and Diploria strigosa at three study sites distributed across the northern Bermuda coral reef platform. We evaluated the correlation between seasonal average growth rates based on coral density and extension rates with average temperature, light, and seawater X arag in an effort to decipher the relative importance of each parameter. The results show significant seasonal differences among coral calcification rates ranging from summer maximums of 243 ± 58 and 274 ± 57 mmol CaCO 3 m -2 d -1 to winter minimums of 135 ± 39 and 101 ± 34 mmol CaCO 3 m -2 d -1 for P. astreoides and D. strigosa, respectively. We also placed small coral colonies (n = 10) in transparent chambers and measured the instantaneous rate of calcification under light and dark treatments at the same study sites. The results showed that the skeletal growth of D. strigosa and P. astreoides, whether hourly or seasonal, was highly sensitive to X arag . We believe this high sensitivity, however, is misleading, due to covariance between light and X arag , with the former being the strongest driver of calcification variability. For the seasonal data, we assessed the impact that the observed seasonal differences in temperature (4.0°C), light (5.1 mol photons m -2 d -1 ), and X arag (0.16 units) would have on coral growth rates based on established relationships derived from laboratory studies and found that they could account for approximately 44, 52, and 5 %, respectively, of the observed seasonal change of 81 ± 14 mmol CaCO 3 m -2 d -1 . Using short-term light and dark incubations, we show how the covariance of light and X arag can lead to the false conclusion that calcification is more sensitive to X arag than it really is.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple driving factors explain spatial and temporal variability in coral calcification rates on the Bermuda platform

2014

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“…shown that coral living in shallow waters has a higher growth rate than those living in deep water (e.g., Goreau, 1959;Marubini et al, 2001;Sun et al, 2008). So the limited growth rate change here is in favor of a limited living-depth change.…”

Section: Origin Of the Intra-skeletal Calcite: Biogenic Vs Early Diamentioning

confidence: 79%

Intra-skeletal calcite in a live-collected Porites sp.: Impact on environmental proxies and potential formation process

Lazareth

Soares-Pereira

Douville

et al. 2016

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

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Geochemical proxies measured in the carbonate skeleton of tropical coral Porites sp. have commonly been used to reconstruct sea surface temperature (SST) and more recently seawater pH. Nevertheless, both reconstructed SST and pH depend on the preservation state of the skeleton, here made of aragonite; i.e., diagenetic processes and its related effects should be limited. In this study, we report on the impact of the presence of intra-skeletal calcite on the skeleton geochemistry of a live-collected Porites sp..The Porites skeleton preservation state was analyzed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca, U/Ca, Ba/Ca, Li/Mg, and B/Ca ratios were measured at a monthly and yearly resolution using solution ICP-MS and multi-collector ICP-MS. Theδ 11 B signatures and the calcite percentages were acquired at a yearly timescale. The coral colony presents two parts, one with less than 3% calcite (referred to as "no-calcite" skeleton), the other one, corresponding to the skeleton formed during the last 4 yrs. of growth,with calcite percentages varying from 13 to 32% (referred to as "with calcite" skeleton). This intra-skeletal calcite replaces partly or completely numerouscenter of calcification (COCs). All geochemical tracers investigated are significantlyimpacted by the presence of calcite. Thereconstructed SSTdecreasesby about0.1°C per calcite-percent as inferred fromthe Sr/Ca ratio. Such impact reaches up to 0.26°C per calcite-percent for temperature deduced from the Li/Mg ratio. So, less than 5% of such intra-skeletal calcite does not prevent SST reconstructions using Sr/Ca ratio, but the percentage and type of calcite have to be determined before fine SST interpretation. Seawater pH reconstruction inferredfrom boron isotopes drop by about -0.011 pH-unit per calcitepercent. Such sensitivity to calcite presence is particularly dramatic for fine paleo-pH reconstructions. Here we suggest that after being brought to shallow waters following a cyclone, the studied coral was seasonally subjected to rainfall-related water freshening that could have mimicked a vadose environment like can be encountered on raised fossil coral reefs. Nevertheless, the process of calcite precipitation remains to be determined.

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“…In contrast, during light no negative impacts of OA on calcification could be observed. Photosynthesis may thus offset impacts of OA by buffering pH during light, increase X ar and, therefore, facilitate deposition of CaCO 3 (Al-Horani et al 2003;Borowitzka and Larkum 1976b;Goreau 1959;N. Vogel et al pers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Calcareous green alga H alimeda tolerates ocean acidification conditions at tropical carbon dioxide seeps

et al. 2015

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We investigated ecological, physiological, and skeletal characteristics of the calcifying green alga Halimeda grown at CO 2 seeps (pH total 7.8) and compared them to those at control reefs with ambient CO 2 conditions (pH total 8.1). Six species of Halimeda were recorded at both the high CO 2 and control sites. For the two most abundant species Halimeda digitata and Halimeda opuntia we determined in situ light and dark oxygen fluxes and calcification rates, carbon contents and stable isotope signatures. In both species, rates of calcification in the light increased at the high CO 2 site compared to controls (131% and 41%, respectively). In the dark, calcification was not affected by elevated CO 2 in H. digitata, whereas it was reduced by 167% in H. opuntia, suggesting nocturnal decalcification. Calculated net calcification of both species was similar between seep and control sites, i.e., the observed increased calcification in light compensated for reduced dark calcification. However, inorganic carbon content increased (22%) in H. digitata and decreased (28%) in H. opuntia at the seep site compared to controls. Significantly, lighter carbon isotope signatures of H. digitata and H. opuntia phylloids at high CO 2 (1.01& [parts per thousand] and 1.94&, respectively) indicate increased photosynthetic uptake of CO 2 over HCO 3 2 potentially reducing dissolved inorganic carbon limitation at the seep site. Moreover, H. digitata and H. opuntia specimens transplanted for 14 d from the control to the seep site exhibited similar d 13 C signatures as specimens grown there. These results suggest that the Halimeda spp. investigated can acclimatize and will likely still be capable to grow and calcify in P CO 2 conditions exceeding most pessimistic future CO 2 projections.

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The Physiology of Skeleton Formation in Corals. I. A Method for Measuring the Rate of Calcium Deposition by Corals Under Different Conditions

Cited by 439 publications

References 14 publications

Multiple driving factors explain spatial and temporal variability in coral calcification rates on the Bermuda platform

Multiple driving factors explain spatial and temporal variability in coral calcification rates on the Bermuda platform

Intra-skeletal calcite in a live-collected Porites sp.: Impact on environmental proxies and potential formation process

Calcareous green alga H alimeda tolerates ocean acidification conditions at tropical carbon dioxide seeps

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