Porites – Species Splash

The long-lived stony coral Porites is home to many generations of marine life, and is a major builder of coral reef ecosystems in the Indo-Pacific region. The layers of calcium carbonate it secretes provide a foundation for baby corals to settle on. Its lengthy lifespan also comes with an unexpected bonus: Porites is a great witness to how climate change has changed our oceans.

Dr. Fernando Siringan, Keanu Jershon Sarmiento, and Edwin Dumalagan Jr. joined this collaboration between UP MSI, DOST ITDI, and DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. Dr. Angel Bautista VII of DOST-PNRI led the team of scientists in using Porites samples to develop a new way to measure sea surface temperatures from the past. Similar to how tree rings can track tree growth, proper analysis of a coral’s density bands can reveal a lot about growth conditions during a specific time. The team of scientists used 3D X-ray Computed Tomography as a quick and precise method to analyze the density bands of Porites corals from Baler, Aurora. Through using Porites as a historical record, scientists can more easily reconstruct past sea surface temperatures and track ocean warming through the decades.

Link to full paper.
Link to Porites on the World Register of Marine Species.

Photo by Fra-and Quimpo.