Chemical characterization of deep-sea corals from the continental slope of Santos Basin (southeastern Brazilian upper margin)

Carbonate mounds and pockmarks are geologically and ecologically important features distributed worldwide in the world’s oceans. In the present study, we present a chemical characterization of deep-sea scleractinian coral skeletons collected in these geomorphological areas at the southeastern conti...

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Main Authors: Tailisi Hoppe Trevizani, Renata Hanae Nagai, Rubens Cesar Lopes Figueira, Paulo Yukio Gomes Sumida, Michel Michaelovitch de Mahiques
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo 2022-11-01
Series:Ocean and Coastal Research
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Online Access:https://www.journals.usp.br/ocr/article/view/204775
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author Tailisi Hoppe Trevizani
Renata Hanae Nagai
Rubens Cesar Lopes Figueira
Paulo Yukio Gomes Sumida
Michel Michaelovitch de Mahiques
author_facet Tailisi Hoppe Trevizani
Renata Hanae Nagai
Rubens Cesar Lopes Figueira
Paulo Yukio Gomes Sumida
Michel Michaelovitch de Mahiques
author_sort Tailisi Hoppe Trevizani
collection DOAJ
description Carbonate mounds and pockmarks are geologically and ecologically important features distributed worldwide in the world’s oceans. In the present study, we present a chemical characterization of deep-sea scleractinian coral skeletons collected in these geomorphological areas at the southeastern continental margin of Brazil. Coral samples were collected from ten sampling stations during cruises aboard the R/V Alpha Crucis, in 2019. Three species of scleractinian corals were studied: Enallopsammia rostrata, Solenosmilia variabilis, and Desmophyllum pertusum. Stable isotopes of carbon and oxygen (δ13C and δ18O), metals, and phosphorus present in the coral carbonate skeletons were analyzed. Corals are recognized as archives of physical-chemical variations in the marine environment, and the Element/Ca ratios, δ13C, and δ18O allowed for the characterization of the studied areas. Chemical composition found in pockmark areas indicated affinity to terrigenous and particulate materials input (Ba/Ca, Fe/Ca, Mn/Ca, Li/Ca, and Mg/Ca). Greater availability of nutrients and anthropogenic materials (Pb/Ca, Cd/Ca, Zn/Ca, and P/Ca) is also likely to occur in this region, with some elemental ratios higher than those measured in other oceans. These mounds can act as barriers for metals from land flows. Also, corals benefit from a higher food supply due to stronger currents. The corals at the top of the Alpha Crucis Carbonate Ridge receive significant marine influence. Most coral samples have carbonate of aragonitic origin, except for a specimen of D. pertusum, which presented carbonate of biogenic calcite and aragonite. The results demonstrate the potential of scleractinian corals in the chemical characterization of the deep ocean and the need for further investigation of carbonate mound areas from the SW Atlantic.
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spelling doaj-art-7bed332000cf452aa3fd2e1e14fcc06c2025-08-20T02:55:52ZengInstituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São PauloOcean and Coastal Research2675-28242022-11-0170Suppl. 2Chemical characterization of deep-sea corals from the continental slope of Santos Basin (southeastern Brazilian upper margin)Tailisi Hoppe TrevizaniRenata Hanae NagaiRubens Cesar Lopes FigueiraPaulo Yukio Gomes SumidaMichel Michaelovitch de Mahiques Carbonate mounds and pockmarks are geologically and ecologically important features distributed worldwide in the world’s oceans. In the present study, we present a chemical characterization of deep-sea scleractinian coral skeletons collected in these geomorphological areas at the southeastern continental margin of Brazil. Coral samples were collected from ten sampling stations during cruises aboard the R/V Alpha Crucis, in 2019. Three species of scleractinian corals were studied: Enallopsammia rostrata, Solenosmilia variabilis, and Desmophyllum pertusum. Stable isotopes of carbon and oxygen (δ13C and δ18O), metals, and phosphorus present in the coral carbonate skeletons were analyzed. Corals are recognized as archives of physical-chemical variations in the marine environment, and the Element/Ca ratios, δ13C, and δ18O allowed for the characterization of the studied areas. Chemical composition found in pockmark areas indicated affinity to terrigenous and particulate materials input (Ba/Ca, Fe/Ca, Mn/Ca, Li/Ca, and Mg/Ca). Greater availability of nutrients and anthropogenic materials (Pb/Ca, Cd/Ca, Zn/Ca, and P/Ca) is also likely to occur in this region, with some elemental ratios higher than those measured in other oceans. These mounds can act as barriers for metals from land flows. Also, corals benefit from a higher food supply due to stronger currents. The corals at the top of the Alpha Crucis Carbonate Ridge receive significant marine influence. Most coral samples have carbonate of aragonitic origin, except for a specimen of D. pertusum, which presented carbonate of biogenic calcite and aragonite. The results demonstrate the potential of scleractinian corals in the chemical characterization of the deep ocean and the need for further investigation of carbonate mound areas from the SW Atlantic. https://www.journals.usp.br/ocr/article/view/204775MetalsStable isotopes]Enallopsammia rostrataSolenosmilia variabilisDesmophyllum pertusum
spellingShingle Tailisi Hoppe Trevizani
Renata Hanae Nagai
Rubens Cesar Lopes Figueira
Paulo Yukio Gomes Sumida
Michel Michaelovitch de Mahiques
Chemical characterization of deep-sea corals from the continental slope of Santos Basin (southeastern Brazilian upper margin)
Ocean and Coastal Research
Metals
Stable isotopes]
Enallopsammia rostrata
Solenosmilia variabilis
Desmophyllum pertusum
title Chemical characterization of deep-sea corals from the continental slope of Santos Basin (southeastern Brazilian upper margin)
title_full Chemical characterization of deep-sea corals from the continental slope of Santos Basin (southeastern Brazilian upper margin)
title_fullStr Chemical characterization of deep-sea corals from the continental slope of Santos Basin (southeastern Brazilian upper margin)
title_full_unstemmed Chemical characterization of deep-sea corals from the continental slope of Santos Basin (southeastern Brazilian upper margin)
title_short Chemical characterization of deep-sea corals from the continental slope of Santos Basin (southeastern Brazilian upper margin)
title_sort chemical characterization of deep sea corals from the continental slope of santos basin southeastern brazilian upper margin
topic Metals
Stable isotopes]
Enallopsammia rostrata
Solenosmilia variabilis
Desmophyllum pertusum
url https://www.journals.usp.br/ocr/article/view/204775
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