Bioerosion in ancient and contemporary corals of the genus Porites: patterns and palaeoenvironmental implications

Fossil and modern colonies of Porites were collected from recent and ancient reefs in different localities along the Gulf of Eilat, Red Sea. Burrows found in fossil corals were remarkably preserved. The most important borers were worms (sipunculids and polychaetes; 35-47%), while sponges showed relatively low bioerosion activity (10-32%). Total bioeroded area in the slabs was similar for both recent and fossil Porites (c3%), but the number of eroding individuals was significantly higher in fossil corals. A higher number of eroding individuals in fossil corals may indicate elevated levels of primary productivity in the Red Sea during periods of the late Quaternary. -from Authors