Coral reef calcification: carbonate, bicarbonate and proton flux under conditions of increasing ocean acidification

Data on calcification rate of coral and crustose coralline algae were used to test the proton flux model of calcification. There was a significant correlation between calcification (G) and the ratio of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) to proton concentration ([DIC] : [H + ] ratio). The ratio is tigh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Biological sciences, 2013-08, Vol.280 (1764), p.1-4
Main Author: Jokiel, P. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Bicarbonates
Bone mineralization
Carbonates
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Coral reefs
Corals
Correlations
Ocean acidification
Protons
Sea water
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Summary:Data on calcification rate of coral and crustose coralline algae were used to test the proton flux model of calcification. There was a significant correlation between calcification (G) and the ratio of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) to proton concentration ([DIC] : [H + ] ratio). The ratio is tightly correlated with [ $CO_{3}^{2-}$ ] and with aragonite saturation state (Ω a ). An argument is presented that correlation does not prove cause and effect, and that Ω a and [ $CO_{3}^{2-}$ ] have no basic physiological meaning on coral reefs other than a correlation with [DIC] : [H + ] ratio, which is the driver of G.
ISSN:0962-8452