Synonyms
Biorock; Electric artificial reef; Electro mineral accretion of minerals in seawater
Definition
Electro mineral accretion (EMA) artificial reefs are metal structures used to secure transplants and promote the growth of scleractinian corals (Hilbertz and Goreau, 1996) and to provide a nature-like colonization substrate (Schuhmacher and Schillak, 1994).
EMA artificial reef structures act similar to an electrolytic cell. They consist of a metal frame upon which coral transplants are attached. An anode (made of a slowly oxidizing metal) is placed in the direct vicinity of the frame (cathode), with a weak DC electrical current applied to the set up. Sea water acts as the conductive electrolyte solution between the cathode and the anode. The applied electric current causes the deposition of minerals, such as CaCO3, Mg(OH)2, CaSO4, and NaCl, on the structure (Meyer and Schumacher, 1993; Hilbertz and Goreau, 1996). This is due to a reduction reaction taking place on the negatively...
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Bibliography
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Taylor, A.C.F. (2011). Electro Mineral Accretion. In: Hopley, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Modern Coral Reefs. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2639-2_211
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2639-2_211
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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