The effects of seawater temperature-induced coral bleaching on the aragonite structure and material properties of massive <i>Porites lutea</i> coral skeletons.

ABSTRACT: The coral skeletons that contribute to tropical reef structures are biominerals, composed of inorganic aragonite and organic biomolecules. The biomolecules influence the aragonite structure and material properties of the skeleton. We collected massive Porites lutea skeletons from Phuket, Thailand, in 1991, approximately one month into a temperature-induced bleaching event. Some specimens had expelled their Symbiodiniaceae in response to the increased water temperatures (bleached), while other corals appeared unaffected (unbleached). We investigate the effect of Symbiodiniaceae loss on the amino acid composition, aragonite structure, and Vickers hardness of the coral skeletons. We observe no significant difference in the amino acid content or composition of the outermost 1 mm of skel

SUBMITTER: Sinclair A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12542618 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature