Microstructural characteristics of the stony coral genus Acropora useful to coral reef paleoecology and modern conservation.

ABSTRACT: Identification of fossil corals is often limited due to poor preservation of external skeleton morphology, especially in the genus Acropora which is widespread across the Indo-Pacific. Based on skeleton characteristics from thin section, we here develop a link between the internal skeleton structure and external morphology. Ten characteristics were summarized to distinguish Acropora and five related genera, including the type and differentiation of corallites, the skeleton nature of corallites (septa, columellae, dissepiments, wall), and calcification centers within septa. Acropora is distinctive for its dimorphic corallites: axial and radial. Isopora is similar to Acropora but possess more than a single axial corallites. Montipora and Astreopor

SUBMITTER: Zhao M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8019043 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature