Multi-scale crystallographic ordering in the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa

Vincent Mouchi,Pierre Vonlanthen,Eric P Verrecchia,Quentin G Crowley

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-09344-5

Abstract

Lophelia pertusa is a widespread colonial cold-water coral which can form large three-dimensional habitats for benthic communities. Although it is known to construct an aragonite skeleton with optically opaque and translucent bands, details of its biomineralized structure are unclear. New crystallographic data obtained from Lophelia pertusa using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) reveal a remarkably high degree of multiscale self-ordering and provide unprecedented detail on crystallographic orientations within the coral skeleton. The EBSD data unequivocally demonstrate a self-regulated architecture across a range of spatial scales, resulting in a specific structure which contributes to the physical robustness of its skeleton and an evolutionary advantage in such habitats.

Highlights

To cite this version: Vincent Mouchi, Pierre Vonlanthen, Eric P
We present here the first detailed electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) study focussing on the microstructure of L. pertusa in order to better understand processes leading to the formation and growth of the corallite wall in the rapid accretion deposit (RAD) and thickening deposits (TD) areas
The external part of the corallite wall consists of a three-dimensional array of fan-like sclerodermites crystallized from roughly equidimensional RADs

Summary

Introduction

To cite this version: Vincent Mouchi, Pierre Vonlanthen, Eric P. Multi-scale crystallographic ordering in the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa. Lophelia pertusa is a widespread colonial cold-water coral which can form large three-dimensional habitats for benthic communities. Lophelia pertusa is a colonial reef-building scleractinian cold-water coral species widely distributed in Plio-Pleistocene to modern marine waters[1]. It dominates modern reef frameworks in the north-east Atlantic and is found in several cold-water marine ecosystems worldwide (e.g. Pacific and Indian oceans)[2]. Contemporary cold-water corals can form large carbonate mounds[3], which create significant three-dimensional sea-floor habitats[1, 4] often resulting in biodiversity hot-spots, as a nursery for juvenile fish species[5]. Given that L. pertusa typically resides in areas of intensified seabed currents[4], a structurally robust skeleton is essential for its survival

Methods

Results

Conclusion