HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
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Defense Date
1998
Document Type
Thesis - NSU Access Only
Degree Name
M.S. Marine Biology
First Advisor
Richard E. Dodge
Second Advisor
Charles G. Messing
Third Advisor
Peter K. Swart
Abstract
Cyclic variations in skeletal structure of long-lived reef corals produce annual density bands evident by X-radiography and X-ray computed tomography. The chemical composition of the calcium carbonate (CaCO3) skeleton and the chronological reliability of these high-density (HD) and low-density (LD) bands can provide accurate records for reconstruction of long-term climatic and ecological conditions. Due to variability across coral taxa, the architectural variations responsible for density banding are not completely understood. The western Atlantic/Caribbean reef coral, Diploria strigosa, is the first meandroid (brain) coral analyzed for skeletal variations relative to density band formation. Skeletal architecture analyses consisted of X-radiography, densitometry, X-ray computed tomography, and computer image analysis techniques. High-density bands correlated with thickened septa and tightly organized and thickened columella. Dissepiment spacing and colline thickness remained relatively constant between high and low-density bands. Results suggest that relationships between skeletal architecture and density banding for D. strigosa differ slightly from previously reported results for Montastraea and Porites. Skeletal structural analyses provide insights relative to density band formation and suggest D. strigosa is a good candidate for isotopic/trace element analyses and a recorder of long-term growth histories.
ORCID ID
0000-0002-9906-5845, B-5241-2011
NSUWorks Citation
Kevin P. Helmle. 1998. Relationships Between Skeletal Architecture and Density Banding in the Reef Coral Diploria strigosa From X-Radiography, X-Ray Computed Tomography and Image Analysis Techniques. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, . (331)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/331.