Figure 2: Influence of photosynthetic algal tissue and pCO2 and temperature on carbonate mineralogy. | Nature Communications

Figure 2: Influence of photosynthetic algal tissue and pCO2 and temperature on carbonate mineralogy.

From: Greenhouse conditions induce mineralogical changes and dolomite accumulation in coralline algae on tropical reefs

Figure 2

Photosynthetically active tissue (surface layer) governs the mineralogical response (that is, dolomite (a), aragonite (b) or MgCO3 (c)) of crustose coralline algae when exposed to pre-industrial (Pre), control (Cont) and High pCO2 concentrations and ambient (28 °C, blue bars) and warming (30 °C, red bars) temperatures. (a) Total asymmetry as an indicator of dolomite amount is higher in bulk tissue (ANOVA, P<0.001, n=3) than the surface layer and asymmetry increased under greenhouse conditions (high pCO2 and 30 °C) only in bulk samples (P<0.001, n=3). (b) Aragonite % is higher in bulk samples (P<0.001, n=3) and under pre-industrial pCO2 and ambient temperature (28 °C) (P=0.001, n=3). Negligible amounts were found in greenhouse surface layer samples. (c) High- MgCO3 (mol% MgCO3) has less Mg-content in surface layers (P<0.001) than in the bulk tissue, but an increase in surface layers is observed under warming conditions (P=0.004, n=3). Data are presented as means and error bars denote s.e.m.

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