Skip to main content
Log in

Coral calcification: Sources of error in radioisotope techniques

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Isotopic exchange occurs between coral skeleton and 45Ca++ and H14CO -3 in seawater. Exchange of 14C onto skeletons is more rapid than exchange of 45Ca++. Exchange of 14C from skeletons to seawater takes place more slowly than exchange of 45Ca++ to seawater. When living coral is incubated in the dark with radioisotopes for 1 h, the tissues contain considerably more radioactivity than is associated with the skeleton. The tissue radioactivity reflects permeation of tissues and coelenteron by radioactive compounds from the incubation seawater. Addition of alkalis to cardioactive seawater results in a radioactive precipitate, part of which becomes associated with any coral skeleton present, and part of which forms on the wall of the containing vessel. Strong alkali removes biologically-deposited radioisotope from coral skeletons. Deposition, of 14C from H14CO -3 in skeletons of living coral incubated in the dark is greater than in dead coral. The reverse situation occurs with 45Ca++.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Barnes, D.J.: The structure and formation of growth-ridges in scleractinian coral skeletons. Proc. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 182, 331–350 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and D.L. Taylor: In situ studies of calcification and photosynthetic carbon fixation in the coral Montastrea annularis. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 24, 284–291 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalker, B.E.: Calcium transport during skeletogenesis in hermatypic corals. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 54A, 455–459 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Clausen, C.D. and A.A. Roth: Estimation of coral growth-rates from laboratory 45Ca-incorporation rates. Mar. Biol. 33, 85–91 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Crossland, C.J. and D.J. Barnes: The role of metabolic nitrogen in coral calcification. Mar. Biol. 28, 325–332 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goreau, T.F.: The physiology of skeletal formation in corals. I. A method for measuring the rate of calcium deposition by corals under different conditions. Biol. Bull. mar. Biol. Lab., Woods Hole 116, 59–75 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • — On the relation of calcification to primary productivity in reef building organisms. In: The biology of hydra, pp 269–285. Ed. by H.M. Lenhoff and W.F. Loomis. Miami: University Press 1961

    Google Scholar 

  • — and N.I. Goreau: The physiology of skeleton formation in corals. IV. On isotopic equilibrium exchanges of calcium between corallum and environment in living and dead reef-building corals. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 119, 416–427 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamberts, A.E.: Measurement of alizarin deposited by coral. Proc. int. Symp. coral Reefs 2, 241–244 (1974). (Brisbane: Great Barrier Reef Committee)

    Google Scholar 

  • Muscatine, L. and E. Cernichiari: Assimilation of photosynthetic products of zooxanthellae by a reef coral. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 137, 506–523 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearse, V.B.: Sources of carbon in the skeleton of the coral Fungia scutaria. In: Experimental coelenterate biology, pp 239–245. Ed. by H.M. Lenhoff, L. Muscatine and L.V. Davis. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Revelle, R. and R. Fairbridge: Carbonates and carbon dioxide. Mem. geol. Soc. Am. 67, 239–285 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weyl, P.K.: The solution behavior of carbonate materials in seawater. Stud. trop. Oceanogr., Miami 5, 178–228 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, S.D., J.D. O'Connor and L. Muscatine: Organic material from scleractinian coral skeletons. II. Incorporation of 14C into protein, chitin and lipid. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 40B 945–958 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by G.F. Humphrey, Sydney

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Barnes, D.J., Crossland, C.J. Coral calcification: Sources of error in radioisotope techniques. Mar. Biol. 42, 119–129 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391562

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391562

Keywords

Navigation