Life Sciences Commons^™

Skeletal Architecture And Density Banding In Diploria Strigosa By X-Ray Computed Tomography, Kevin P. Helmle, Richard E. Dodge, R. A. Ketcham

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

Density bands in corals have long been considered a valuable tool for reconstructing past environmental and climatic conditions. X-radiographs reveal density banding within a skeletal slab, but provide little information about the skeletal variability causing banding. The skeletal architecture of Diploria strigosa was analyzed by X-radiography, X-ray computed tomography, and image analysis to identify the specific skeletal elements responsible for density banding. Threedimensional skeletal reconstructions, density-band reconstructions, and skeletal animations were created to assess the apparent changes in skeletal structure associated with density banding. Measurements were made of the dissepiments, thecae, septa, and columellae to determine how element size related …