Reef‐wide and long‐term skeletal growth records of the mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata) from Belize barrier and atoll reefs (Central America)

A reef-wide analysis of the mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata) reveals that while skeletal density has increased across Belize's barrier and atoll reefs over the past two centuries, linear extension and calcification rates have declined. This trend suggests that denser skeletons do not offset the negative impacts of reduced growth and calcification in these corals. The study, based on 11 drill cores from 10 coral colonies spanning 17 to 186 years, also identified periodic skeletal growth cycles of 40–80 years, likely linked to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). These findings highlight the value of coral skeletal records as archives for long-term oceanographic change and underscore the sensitivity of reef-building corals to environmental shifts.

Zoppe, S. F., & Gischler, E. (2023). Reef‐wide and long‐term skeletal growth records of the mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata) from Belize barrier and atoll reefs (Central America). Journal of Quaternary Science, 39(1), 145–162. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3572