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Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Corals May Have Defense Against Global Warming


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Researchers have discovered well-preserved fossil skeletons of a so-called scleractinian coral in European limestone deposits.

They were surprised that the skeletons formed a skeleton resistant to the effects of acidity.

The find challenges a century-old paradigm that such corals only form skeletons of aragonite, another form of calcium carbonate—present in modern-day corals—that is sensitive to acid.

Photograph courtesy Science