Light-regulated Ca2+ uptake and O2 secretion at the surface of a scleractinian coral Galaxea fascicularis

The surface concentration dynamics of Ca2+ and O2 in the scleractinian coral Galaxea fascicularis were investigated by means of 2 mm-sized sensors (mini-electrodes). Mini-electrodes were used to measure the light-regulated uptake of Ca2+ for calcification, and the secretion of O2, produced by photosynthesising zooxanthellae, at the surface of the oral ectoderm of Galaxea polyps. The concentration of Ca2+ measured in the boundary layer of seawater adjacent to the polyp surface was variable but always higher than in bulk seawater in the dark and fell to levels closer to the value in bulk seawater on illumination. The fall in concentration, representing an influx of Ca2+ into the ectoderm, increased with increasing photosynthetic photon flux density of illumination. The decrease in Ca2+ concentration on illumination was insensitive to ruthenium red but sensitive to verapamil and acetazolamide. Oxygen secretion at the ectoderm, manifested by an increase in O2 concentration in the boundary layer, increased on illumination but was not sensitive to any of the inhibitors used in the calcium experiments. The results suggest that Ca2+ uptake involves calcium channels and is coupled in someway to the uptake of inorganic carbon for calcification. Uptake is also strongly coupled to photosynthesis.