Effect of aragonite saturation state of seawater on coral calcification: implications for their response to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide

Abstract

The effect of changes in aragonite saturation state of seawater on coral calcification was studied using colonial coral (Porites) and solitary coral (Fungia) in the laboratory conditions at 25 degree. The increase in seawater aragonite saturation state from 1.56 to 5.18 caused an increase in coral calcification rates. The calcification rates of the samples and the saturation states were observed to be a linear ralationship. If atmospheric carbon dioxide increase in future as predicted, seawater saturation state will decrease and the coral calcification may decrease.