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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7247 |
| _version_ | 1818325578113089536 |
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| author | Meixia Zhao Haiyang Zhang Yu Zhong Xiaofeng Xu Hongqiang Yan Gang Li Wen Yan |
| author_facet | Meixia Zhao Haiyang Zhang Yu Zhong Xiaofeng Xu Hongqiang Yan Gang Li Wen Yan |
| author_sort | Meixia Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T11:46:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b1adfaf3171a4c88960752df1098dc9b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T11:46:42Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-b1adfaf3171a4c88960752df1098dc9b2022-12-21T23:47:30ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582021-04-011173093310910.1002/ece3.7247Microstructural characteristics of the stony coral genus Acropora useful to coral reef paleoecology and modern conservationMeixia Zhao0Haiyang Zhang1Yu Zhong2Xiaofeng Xu3Hongqiang Yan4Gang Li5Wen Yan6Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology South China Sea Institute of Oceanology Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou ChinaKey Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology South China Sea Institute of Oceanology Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou ChinaSouthern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) Guangzhou ChinaKey Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology South China Sea Institute of Oceanology Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou ChinaKey Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology South China Sea Institute of Oceanology Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou ChinaKey Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology South China Sea Institute of Oceanology Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou ChinaKey Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology South China Sea Institute of Oceanology Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou ChinaAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7247AcroporaIndo‐PacificmicrostructureScleractiniaSouth China Seataxonomic identification |
| spellingShingle | Meixia Zhao Haiyang Zhang Yu Zhong Xiaofeng Xu Hongqiang Yan Gang Li Wen Yan Microstructural characteristics of the stony coral genus Acropora useful to coral reef paleoecology and modern conservation Ecology and Evolution Acropora Indo‐Pacific microstructure Scleractinia South China Sea taxonomic identification |
| title | Microstructural characteristics of the stony coral genus Acropora useful to coral reef paleoecology and modern conservation |
| title_full | Microstructural characteristics of the stony coral genus Acropora useful to coral reef paleoecology and modern conservation |
| title_fullStr | Microstructural characteristics of the stony coral genus Acropora useful to coral reef paleoecology and modern conservation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microstructural characteristics of the stony coral genus Acropora useful to coral reef paleoecology and modern conservation |
| title_short | Microstructural characteristics of the stony coral genus Acropora useful to coral reef paleoecology and modern conservation |
| title_sort | microstructural characteristics of the stony coral genus acropora useful to coral reef paleoecology and modern conservation |
| topic | Acropora Indo‐Pacific microstructure Scleractinia South China Sea taxonomic identification |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7247 |
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