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Coral clues to climate change

July 23, 2009

The Northern Star Coral, or Astrangia poculata, seen here with polyps extended, is a unique cold water coral that occurs in Woods Hole, MA, with (brown) and without (white) symbiotic algae. Both warm and cold-water corals are used at WHOI to research past ocean climate, past ocean circulation changes, and past sea levels. Astrangia poculata colonies are also used in culture experiments to provide insights into coral biomineralization processes and the effects of ocean acidification on calcification.
(Photo by Terry Rioux, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)