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Skeletal dissolution kinetics and mechanical tests in response to morphology among coral genera

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Abstract

Ocean acidification is widely accepted as a primary threat to coral reef populations. Negative physiological effects include decreased calcification rates, heightened metabolic energy expenditure, and increased dissolution of coral skeletons. However, studies on the dissolution of coral skeletons structures under ocean acidification conditions and their implications on sediments remain scarce. In this work, we examined skeletal dissolution kinetics from four of the most representative hermatypic corals of the Eastern Pacific coasts (Pocillopora, Porites, Pavona, and Psammocora). Samples were treated with a highly acidic solution for defined periods of time, and measurements of dissolved calcium ([Ca+2]) were used to evaluate the kinetics of coral skeleton dissolution. All genera tests except Porites showed a zero reaction rate. Porites exhibited a first-order reaction and a faster reaction rate than other genera. Compression strength tests and skeletal density did not correlate with reaction rate. Pavona showed greater structural strength. Porites were the most susceptible to acidic dissolution compared to other genera tested due to their morphology, i.e., possession of the largest surface area, suggesting a high vulnerability under low-pH conditions. The hierarchical response in dissolution kinetics among coral genera tested suggests that the most soluble coral might act as a buffer under ocean acidification conditions.

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Acknowledgements

This project was partially funded by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) Ref. 023390 to Luis Eduardo Calderon Aguilera. We are grateful to I. Gradilla (UNAM) for SEM images, Mario Vega (CICESE) for IPC measurements, and Héctor Reyes-Bonilla (UABCS) for providing coral samples and useful comments. We also thank the two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. We also thank to A. Zirino and S. V. Smith for their comments and suggestions for improvement of the manuscript.

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  1. Ana B. Castro-Ceseña

    Present address: CONACyT-Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica, Tijuana, México

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanográficas y Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada Km. 103, 22860, Ensenada, Mexico

    Orión C. Norzagaray-López & José M. Hernández-Ayón

  2. Laboratorio de Ecología y Pesquerías de la Zona Costera, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada, Mexico

    Luis E. Calderon-Aguilera

  3. Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA

    Ana B. Castro-Ceseña

  4. Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ensenada, Mexico

    Gustavo Hirata

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  1. Orión C. Norzagaray-López
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Norzagaray-López, O.C., Calderon-Aguilera, L.E., Castro-Ceseña, A.B. et al. Skeletal dissolution kinetics and mechanical tests in response to morphology among coral genera. Facies 63, 7 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-016-0488-2

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