A Compartmental Approach to the Mechanism of Calcification in Hermatypic Corals

Ca2+ compartments, Ca2+ transport and the calcification process were studied by using 45Ca as a tracer. The biological model used was clones of Stylophora pistillata developed into microcolonies whose skeleton is entirely covered by tissues, thus avoiding direct radioisotope exchange between the sea water and the skeleton. The study of Ca2+ compartments was performed by measuring two complementary parameters: Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ efflux...