Publication Date:
2018-10-29
Description:
This chapter discusses coral skeletogenesis, focusing on the morphology of the skeletogenic tissues. It reviews the light and electron microscope studies carried out in this regard, illustrating the example of the morphology of the skeletogenic tissues of the coral Pocillopora damicornis. A structural organic matrix is present in the adult skeleton of Pocillopora damicornis. One component of this structural matrix is present transiently at the growth surface of the skeleton. It consists of individual sheaths enveloping each forming aragonite crystal. These crystal sheaths, plus some small extracellular vesicles that are presumed to represent a precursor for the sheaths, are together implicated in the hypotheses for coral calcification. The hypotheses fall into the following three broad categories: (1) algal removal of possible inhibitory substances; (2) a general stimulatory effect of algal metabolism; and (3) algal contribution to a skeletal organic matrix.
Type:
Article
,
PeerReviewed
Format:
text
