Gains and losses of coral skeletal porosity changes with ocean acidification acclimation.

ABSTRACT: Ocean acidification is predicted to impact ecosystems reliant on calcifying organisms, potentially reducing the socioeconomic benefits these habitats provide. Here we investigate the acclimation potential of stony corals living along a pH gradient caused by a Mediterranean CO2 vent that serves as a natural long-term experimental setting. We show that in response to reduced skeletal mineralization at lower pH, corals increase their skeletal macroporosity (features >10 μm) in order to maintain constant linear extension rate, an important criterion for reproductive output. At the nanoscale, the coral skeleton's structural features are not altered. However, higher skeletal porosity, and reduced bulk density and stiffness may contribute to reduce population density and increase damage susceptib

SUBMITTER: Fantazzini P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4518299 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature