Author(s)

Ali Al-Sawalmih^1,2*, Jafar Megdadi¹

¹Marine Science Station, The University of Jordan & Yarmouk University, Aqaba, Jordan.
²Department of Coastal Environment, Faculty of Marine Sciences, The University of Jordan, Aqaba, Jordan.

Cultured Stylophora pistillata in Phosphate Loading Berth (PLB) sites in the Jordanian Gulf of Aqaba was investigated using Back-Scatter Scanning Electron (BSE) microscopy and Energy-Disperse X-ray (EDX) to determine trace elements and calcium concentrations’ distribution within the micrometer scale. Ca, C, and O in addition to six trace elements (Mg, Sr, S, Cl, Ni, and Na) were mapped within the sample cross section. Samples from the PLB were as expected poorly mineralized as previously reported and showed mineralization heterogeneity in the micrometer length scale in the BSE image. In four selected positions within the cross sections, Ca concentration found to range between 0.44 - 1.80 wt% in low-mineralized regions and between 3.99 - 4.66 wt% in mineralized regions. The average calcium concentrations were in accordance to previous study; about 10% of the Ca existed in the same coral species from other coastal sites in the Gulf of Aqaba. This could be attributed to the role of phosphate in inhibition of calcification and enhancement of photosynthesis. Amounts of trace elements in lower Ca concentration positions within the cross section were relatively very low except for chlorine, whereas positions with higher Ca contained amounts of Na and Sr. This study reports remarkable heterogeneity in mineral distribution within the microstructure of the coral Stylophora pistillata under phosphate pollution stress.

Phosphate, Coral, Gulf of Aqaba, Calcification, Stylophora pistillata, EDX, SEM

Al-Sawalmih, A. and Megdadi, J. (2016) Heterogeneous Microstructure and Distribution of Trace Elements in Coral Stylophora pistillata Nursed in the Phosphate Loading Berth Site in the Gulf of Aqaba. Natural Science, 8, 541-552. doi: 10.4236/ns.2016.812053.