Morphological, elemental, and boron isotopic insights into pathophysiology of diseased coral growth anomalies.

ABSTRACT: Coral growth anomalies (GAs) are tumor-like lesions that are detrimental to colony fitness and are commonly associated with high human population density, yet little is known about the disease pathology or calcification behavior. SEM imagery, skeletal trace elements and boron isotopes (δ¹¹B) have been combined as a novel approach to study coral disease. Low Mg/Ca, and high U/Ca, Mo/Ca, and V/Ca potentially suggest a decreased abundance of "centers of calcification" and nitrogen-fixation in GAs. Estimates of carbonate system parameters from δ¹¹B and B/Ca measurements indicate reduced pH (-0.05 units) and [CO₃^2-] within GA calcifying fluid. We theorize GAs re-allocate resources away from internal pH upregulation to sustain elevated tissue growth, r

SUBMITTER: Andersson ER 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7237652 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature