Document of bibliographic reference 339600

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Microstructural characteristics of the stony coral genus Acropora useful to coral reef paleoecology and modern conservation

Abstract

Identification of fossil corals is often limited due to poor preservation of external skeleton morphology, especially in the genus Acropora which is widespread across the Indo-Pacific. Based on skeleton characteristics from thin section, we here develop a link between the internal skeleton structure and external morphology. Ten characteristics were summarized to distinguish Acropora and five related genera, including the type and differentiation of corallites, the skeleton nature of corallites (septa, columellae, dissepiments, wall), and calcification centers within septa. Acropora is distinctive for its dimorphic corallites: axial and radial. Isopora is similar to Acropora but possess more than a single axial corallites. Montipora and Astreopora (family Acroporidae) have monomorphic corallites and a synapticular ring wall, with clustered calcification center in the former and medial lines in the latter. Pocillopora and Porties are classified by distinctive dissepiments, columellae and septa. These microstructural skeleton characteristics were effective in the genus identification of fossil corals from drilled cores in the South China Sea. Eighteen detailed characteristics (ten of axial corallites, four of radial corallites, and four of coenosteum) were used in the Acropora species classification. The axial corallites size and structure (including corallite diameter, synapticular rings, and septa), the septa of radial corallites, and the arrangement of coenosteum were critical indicators for species identification. This identification guide can help paleoenvironmental and paleoecological analyses and modern coral reef conservation and restoration.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000626625500001

Bibliographic citation

Zhao, M.; Zhang, H.; Zhong, Y.; Xu, X.; Yan, H.; Li, G.; Yan, W. (2021). Microstructural characteristics of the stony coral genus Acropora useful to coral reef paleoecology and modern conservation. Ecol. Evol. 11(7): 3093-3109. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7247

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true