Investigation of coral biomineralization with implication for paleo-climatology

Abstract

Recent micro-analytical studies have revealed large amplitude variations in Sr/Ca and oxygen isotopic composition in coral skeletons; variations that cannot be ascribed to changes in SST or in salinity. They show the great potential for determining chemical variations at length scales of direct relevance to the biomineralization process. For example, it is now possible to measure geochemical variations within the two basic micrometer-sized building blocks of the coral skeleton. Such micro- and nano-meter scale observations, in combination with controlled laboratory culturing of corals, hold the promise of yielding important new insights into the various biomineralization processes, which may affect the chemical and isotopic composition of the skeletons.