Spatial variability of and effect of light on the cÅlenteron pH of a reef coral.
Commun Biol
; 7(1): 246, 2024 Feb 29.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38424314
ABSTRACT
Coral reefs, the largest bioconstruction on Earth, are formed by calcium carbonate skeletons of corals. Coral skeleton formation commonly referred to as calcification occurs in a specific compartment, the extracellular calcifying medium (ECM), located between the aboral ectoderm and the skeleton. Calcification models often assume a direct link between the surrounding seawater and the ECM. However, the ECM is separated from the seawater by several tissue layers and the cÅlenteron, which contains the cÅlenteric fluid found in both polyps and cÅnosarc (tissue connecting the polyps). Symbiotic dinoflagellate-containing cells line the cÅlenteron and their photosynthetic activity contributes to changes in the chemistry of the cÅlenteric fluid, particularly with respect to pH. The aim of our study is to compare cÅlenteron pH between the cÅnosarc and polyps and to compare areas of high or low dinoflagellate density based on tissue coloration. To achieve this, we use liquid ion exchange (LIX) pH microsensors to profile pH in the cÅlenteron of polyps and the cÅnosarc in different regions of the coral colony in light and darkness. We interpret our results in terms of what light and dark exposure means for proton gradients between the ECM and the coelenteron, and how this could affect calcification.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Calcinose
/
Antozoários
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Commun Biol
/
Commun. biolog
/
Communications biology
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Mônaco