Quantification of skeletal density in corals using gamma densitometry: a pilot project

这一试点项目有两个目标，包括：(1)开发一套先进的伽马密度测定仪，以量化珊瑚的密度变化；(2)首先对选定的分类群和各种环境的珊瑚芯板进行分析，以评估环境参数(温度、盐度、降水、浊度)和繁殖对珊瑚骨架发育(伸展、密度、钙化)的影响。来自几个属(重点是Montastraea、Porites)的珊瑚样本材料可供使用，并可用于该项目。将所获得的关于密度变化以及延伸率和钙化率的数据与现有的环境替代数据和仪器气候数据进行比较。鉴于全球变化、气温上升和海洋酸化，关于珊瑚等海洋无脊椎动物骨骼和贝壳密度的长期数据具有非常重要的科学意义和社会经济意义。该密度测量装置将用于未来更全面的硬化年代学项目中。

This pilot project has two objectives including (1) the technical development of an advanced gamma densitometry set-up for the quantification of density variation in scleractinian corals, and (2) first analyses of coral core slabs from selected taxa and a variety of environments in order to evaluate the influence of environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, precipitation, turbidity) and reproduction on coral skeleton development (extension, density, calcification). Coral sample material from several genera (with a focus on Montastraea, Porites) are available and may be used in this project. Aquired data on density variation in combination with extension and calcification rates will be compared to existing environmental proxy data and instrumental climate data. In the light of global change, temperature rise, and ocean acidification, long-term data on density in skeletons and shells of marine invertebrates such as corals will be highly significant for both pure scientific and socio-economic reasons. The densitometry set-up shall be used in future, more comprehensive sclerochronology projects.