Skeletal extension, density and calcification rate of the reef building coral Montastraea annularis (Ellis and Solander) in the Mexican Caribbean

Growth parameters (skeletal extension density, and calcification rate) were determined using annual growth bands along 12 slabs of skeletons of the re ef building coral Montastraea annularis, collected at 1.5 m depth in Puerto Morelos and at 10 m depth in Xahuayxol, in the Mexican Caribbean. X-radiog raphy contact prints revealed that the high-density annual growth band is f ormed during summer, possibly between July and September, when the sea wate r temperatures are highest in the Mexican Caribbean. Skeletal extension, de nsity and calcification rates obtained were within the range of values pres ented by other authors for M. annularis in different reefs distributed thro ughout the Atlantic Ocean. Only slight trends could be identified for the t ime span represented by the slabs (1980-1995) for the three parameters, sug gesting that the environmental conditions have been quite similar for the p ast 1.5 decades. Using the available environmental data, it seems that, at least, water temperatures have been similar for the period of time studied in the two reef zones. In addition, the observed relationships among the gr owth parameters were similar to those previously described by other authors . An alternative to the more expensive density measurement procedures is de scribed and discussed.