9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
[R4P-01] Distribution of calcite-aragonite on skeletons of scleractinian coral
Keywords:Reef-building corals, Calcium carbonate, biomineralization
Reef-building corals (scleractinian corals) inhabit in tropical and subtropical area and have symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae. The exoskeletons consist of calcium carbonate, aragonite. However, recently calcite is reported as component of skeletons in corals living in the Southern Ocean or Cretaceous corals. To discuss the polymorph selection in coral calcification, we examined the distribution of aragonite-calcite in coral skeletons cultured in an environment where calcite easily precipitates.