Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Annual Periodicity of the 18O16O and 13C12C ratios in the coral Montastrea annularis

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

ISSN

0016-7037

Publication Date

7-1979

Keywords

Montastrea annularis

Abstract

The isotopic ratios 18O/16O and 13C/12C show an annual periodicity in the coral Montastrea annularis from Bermuda, Jamaica and Barbados. The abundances of 18O and 13C are positively correlated in the Jamaica and Barbados samples, but inversely related in the Bermuda sample. Annual high density growth bands are formed during the season of warmest water temperature at all 3 sites and are enriched in 16O. M. Annularis has a constant displacement from oxygen isotopic equilibrium and accurately records seasonal temperature variations via the temperature-dependent aragonite-water fractionation factor. Light intensity, through the activity of the coral's endosymbiotic algae, regulates the depth-dependent and seasonal variations in the skeletal carbon isotopic composition.

DOI

10.1016/0016-7037(79)90090-5

Volume

43

Issue

7

First Page

1009

Last Page

1020

Comments

©Pergamon Press Ltd. 1979.

Additional Comments

Department of Energy contract #: 79EV10041.000; NSF grant #: OCE 77-25976

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Peer Reviewed

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