Bioerosion of coral reefs – a chemical approach

Bioerosion of coral reefs involves the removal of calcareous substrates by organisms such as the bivalve Lithophaga lessepsiana. This study focused on measuring the changes in total alkalinity around colonies of the coral Stylophora pistillata to assess the bioerosion rate and mechanism. The findings highlight significant bioerosion activity, particularly in sections of coral heavily infested by L. lessepsiana, with implications for the mechanical stability and long-term health of coral reef ecosystems.