scholarly journals Environmental records from coral skeletons: A decade of novel insights and innovation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane M. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Coral Skeletons

DO FIJIAN CORAL SKELETONS RECORD WATERSHED CHANGES?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Samperiz ◽  
◽  
Sindia Sosdian ◽  
Erica Hendy ◽  
Kenneth G. Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Skeletons

Measuring Coral Skeletal Architecture Using Image Analysis v1

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowan Mclachlan ◽  
Ashruti Patel ◽  
Andrea G Grottoli
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Image Analysis ◽  
Scleractinian Coral ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Energy Materials ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Coral Skeletons ◽  
Skeletal Structures ◽  
Scanning Electron

Coral morphology is influenced by genetics, the environment, or the interaction of both, and thus is highly variable. This protocol outlines a non-destructive and relatively simple method for measuring Scleractinian coral sub-corallite skeletal structures (such as the septa length, theca thickness, and corallite diameter, etc.) using digital images produced as a result of digital microscopy or from scanning electron microscopy. This method uses X and Y coordinates of points placed onto photomicrographs to automatically calculate the length and/or diameter of a variety of sub-corallite skeletal structures in the Scleractinian coral Porites lobata. However, this protocol can be easily adapted for other coral species - the only difference may be the specific skeletal structures that are measured (for example, not all coral species have a pronounced columella or pali, or even circular corallites). This protocol is adapted from the methods described in Forsman et al. (2015) & Tisthammer et al. (2018). There are 4 steps to this protocol: 1) Removal of Organic Tissue from Coral Skeletons 2) Imaging of Coral Skeletons 3) Photomicrograph Image Analysis 4) Calculation of Corallite Microstructure Size This protocol was written by Dr. Rowan McLachlan and was reviewed by Ashruti Patel and Dr. Andréa Grottoli. Acknowledgments Leica DMS 1000 and Scanning Electron Microscopy photomicrographs used in this protocol were acquired at the Subsurface Energy Materials Characterization and Analysis Laboratory (SEMCAL), School of Earth Sciences at The Ohio State University, Ohio, USA. I would like to thank Dr. Julie Sheets, Dr. Sue Welch, and Dr. David Cole for training me on the use of these instruments.

Improving analytical method of Sr/Ca ratios in coral skeletons for paleo‐ SST reconstructions using ICP‐OES

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 297-310
Author(s):  
Takaaki K. Watanabe ◽  
Tsuyoshi Watanabe ◽  
Kazuto Ohmori ◽  
Atsuko Yamazaki
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Method ◽  
Icp Oes ◽  
Coral Skeletons

Seasonal high and low density bands in reef coral skeletons

Nature ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 255 (5511) ◽  
pp. 697-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
JON N. WEBER ◽  
PETER DEINES ◽  
EUGENE W. WHITE ◽  
PATRICIA H. WEBER
Keyword(s):  
Reef Coral ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Coral Skeletons

scholarly journals A genomic view of coral-associated Prosthecochloris and a companion sulfate-reducing bacterium

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Hsiang Chen ◽  
Shan-Hua Yang ◽  
Kshitij Tandon ◽  
Chih-Ying Lu ◽  
Hsing-Ju Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Sulfur Metabolism ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Coral Skeleton ◽  
Pigment Synthesis ◽  
Sulfate Reducing ◽  
Coral Skeletons ◽  
Functional Genomic Analysis ◽  
Ecological Roles ◽  
Isopora Palifera

AbstractEndolithic microbial symbionts in the coral skeleton may play a pivotal role in maintaining coral health. However, compared to aerobic microorganisms, research on the roles of endolithic anaerobic microorganisms and microbe-microbe interactions in the coral skeleton are still in their infancy. In our previous study, we showed that a group of coral-associated Prosthecochloris (CAP), a genus of anaerobic green sulfur bacteria, was dominant in the skeleton of the coral Isopora palifera. Though CAP is diverse, the 16S rRNA phylogeny presents it as a distinct clade separate from other free-living Prosthecochloris. In this study, we build on previous research and further characterize the genomic and metabolic traits of CAP by recovering two new near-complete CAP genomes—Candidatus Prosthecochloris isoporaea and Candidatus Prosthecochloris sp. N1—from coral Isopora palifera endolithic cultures. Genomic analysis revealed that these two CAP genomes have high genomic similarities compared with other Prosthecochloris and harbor several CAP-unique genes. Interestingly, different CAP species harbor various pigment synthesis and sulfur metabolism genes, indicating that individual CAPs can adapt to a diversity of coral microenvironments. A novel near-complete SRB genome—Candidatus Halodesulfovibrio lyudaonia—was also recovered from the same culture. The fact that CAP and various sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) co-exist in coral endolithic cultures and coral skeleton highlights the importance of SRB in the coral endolithic community. Based on functional genomic analysis of Ca. P. sp. N1 and Ca. H. lyudaonia, we also propose a syntrophic relationship between the SRB and CAP in the coral skeleton.ImportanceLittle is known about the ecological roles of endolithic microbes in the coral skeleton; one potential role is as a nutrient source for their coral hosts. Here, we identified a close ecological relationship between CAP and SRB. Recovering novel near-complete CAP and SRB genomes from endolithic cultures in this study enabled us to understand the genomic and metabolic features of anaerobic endolithic bacteria in coral skeletons. These results demonstrate that CAP members with similar functions in carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen metabolisms harbor different light-harvesting components, suggesting that CAP in the skeleton adapts to niches with different light intensities. Our study highlights the potential ecological roles of CAP and SRB in coral skeletons and paves the way for future investigations into how coral endolithic communities will respond to environmental changes.

scholarly journals Nucleation and growth of spherulites in coral skeletons, aspirin, chocolate

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pupa Gilbert ◽  
Cayla Stifler ◽  
Laszlo Granasy
Keyword(s):  
Nucleation And Growth ◽  
Coral Skeletons

scholarly journals Fossil Corals With Various Degrees of Preservation Can Retain Information About Biomineralization-Related Organic Material

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeana L. Drake ◽  
Maxence Guillermic ◽  
Robert A. Eagle ◽  
David K. Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Trace Element ◽  
Organic Matrix ◽  
Trace Element Composition ◽  
Element Composition ◽  
Living Tissue ◽  
Coral Skeletons ◽  
Meaningful Information ◽  
Biomineralization Process ◽  
Fossil Corals ◽  
Molecular Components

Scleractinian corals typically form a robust calcium carbonate skeleton beneath their living tissue. This skeleton, through its trace element composition and isotope ratios, may record environmental conditions of water surrounding the coral animal. While bulk unrecrystallized aragonite coral skeletons can be used to reconstruct past ocean conditions, corals that have undergone significant diagenesis have altered geochemical signatures and are typically assumed to retain insufficient meaningful information for bulk or macrostructural analysis. However, partially recrystallized skeletons may retain organic molecular components of the skeletal organic matrix (SOM), which is secreted by the animal and directs aspects of the biomineralization process. Some SOM proteins can be retained in fossil corals and can potentially provide past oceanographic, ecological, and indirect genetic information. Here, we describe a dataset of scleractinian coral skeletons, aged from modern to Cretaceous plus a Carboniferous rugosan, characterized for their crystallography, trace element composition, and amino acid compositions. We show that some specimens that are partially recrystallized to calcite yield potentially useful biochemical information whereas complete recrystalization or silicification leads to significant alteration or loss of the SOM fraction. Our analysis is informative to biochemical-paleoceanographers as it suggests that previously discounted partially recrystallized coral skeletons may indeed still be useful at the microstructural level.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document