Coral micro- and macro-morphological skeletal properties in response to life-long acclimatization at CO₂ vents in Papua New Guinea.

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the effects of long-term exposure to OA on skeletal parameters of four tropical zooxanthellate corals naturally living at CO₂ seeps and adjacent control sites from two locations (Dobu and Upa Upasina) in the Papua New Guinea underwater volcanic vent system. The seeps are characterized by seawater pH values ranging from 8.0 to about 7.7. The skeletal porosity of Galaxea fascicularis, Acropora millepora, massive Porites, and Pocillopora damicornis was higher (up to ~ 40%, depending on the species) at the seep sites compared to the control sites. Pocillopora damicornis also showed a decrease of micro-density (up to ~ 7%). Thus, further investigations conducted on this species showed an increase of the volume fraction of the larger pores (up to ~ 7%), a decre

SUBMITTER: Prada F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8497495 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature