4D Insights into Coral Biomineralization: Effects of Ocean Acidification on the Early Skeleton Development of a Stony Coral (Adv. Sci. 48/2025)

Coral Skeleton GrowthStony coral skeletons form through two main growth zones, rapid accretion deposits (RADs) and thickening deposits (TDs), that emerge in the earliest life stages.Ocean acidification alters their growth, increasing TD density via a shift toward more crystalline calcium carbonate phases, and reducing RADs development.The result is a denser yet structurally weaker skeleton, redefining coral resilience under future ocean scenarios.