Community and environmental influences on reef coral calcification

Abstract

Reef corals calcify faster in the presence of non‐calcareous algae. Ratios of calcification to photosynthesis appear to be affected by the ratio of alkalinity to acidity, which controls how efficiently the protons from calcification convert bicarbonate to carbon dioxide. By forcing calcifiers to calcify faster, algal proliferation on nutrient‐enriched reefs may adversely affect the reef‐builders.

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