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Seawater carbonate chemistry and calcification during experiments with corals, 2003

Biogenic calcification is influenced by the concentration of available carbonate ions. The recent confirmation of this for hermatypic corals has raised concern over the future of coral reefs because [CO3] is a decreasing function of increasing pCO2 in the atmosphere. As one of the overriding features of coral reefs is their diversity, understanding the degree of variability between species in their ability to cope with a change in [CO3] is a priority. We cultured four phylogenetically and physiologically different species of hermatypic coral (Acropora verweyi, Galaxea fascicularis, Pavona cactus and Turbinaria reniformis) under 'normal' (280 µmol/kg) and 'low' (140 µmol/kg) carbonate-ion concentrations. The effect on skeletogenesis was investigated quantitatively (by calcification rate) and qualitatively (by microstructural appearance of growing crystalline fibres using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)). The 'low carbonate' treatment resulted in a significant suppression of calcification rate and a tendency for weaker crystallization at the distal tips of fibres. However, while the calcification rate was affected uniformly across species (13-18% reduction), the magnitude of the microstructural response was highly species specific: crystallization was most markedly affected in A. verweyi and least in T. reniformis. These results are discussed in relation to past records and future predictions of carbonate variability in the oceans.

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Cite this as

Marubini, Francesca, Ferrier-Pagès, Christine, Cuif, Jean-Pierre (2003). Dataset: Seawater carbonate chemistry and calcification during experiments with corals, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.819631

DOI retrieved: 2003

Additional Info

Field Value
Imported on November 29, 2024
Last update November 30, 2024
License CC-BY-3.0
Source https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.819631
Author Marubini, Francesca
Given Name Francesca
Family Name Marubini
More Authors
Ferrier-Pagès, Christine
Cuif, Jean-Pierre
Source Creation 2003
Publication Year 2003
Resource Type application/zip - filename: Marubini-eta_2003
Subject Areas
Name: BiologicalClassification

Name: Biosphere

Name: Ecology

Related Identifiers
Title: Suppression of skeletal growth in scleractinian corals by decreasing ambient carbonate-ion concentration: a cross-family comparison
Identifier: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2002.2212
Type: DOI
Relation: IsSupplementTo
Year: 2003
Source: Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences
Authors: Marubini Francesca , Ferrier-Pagès Christine , Cuif Jean-Pierre .