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Abstract

Structures made by scleractinian corals support diverse ocean ecosystems. Despite the importance of coral skeletons and their predicted vulnerability to climate change, few studies have examined the mechanical and crystallographic properties of coral skeletons at the micro- and nano-scales. Here, we investigated the interplay of crystallographic and microarchitectural organization with mechanical anisotropy within Porites skeletons by measuring Young’s modulus and hardness along surfaces transverse and longitudinal to the primary coral growth direction. We observed micro-scale anisotropy, where the transverse surface had greater Young’s modulus and hardness by ∼ 6 GPa and 0.2 GPa, respectively. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) revealed that this surface also had a higher percentage of crystals oriented with the a-axis between ± 30-60∘, relative to the longitudinal surface, and a broader grain size distribution. Within a region containing a sharp microscale gradient in Young’s modulus, nanoscale indentation mapping, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), EBSD, and Raman crystallography were performed. A correlative trend showed higher Young’s modulus and hardness in regions with individual crystal bases (c-axis) facing upward, and in crystal fibers relative to centers of calcification. These relationships highlight the difference in mechanical properties between scales (i.e. crystals, crystal bundles, grains). Observations of crystal orientation and mechanical properties suggest that anisotropy is driven by microscale organization and crystal packing, rather than intrinsic crystal anisotropy. In comparison with previous observations of nanoscale isotropy in corals, our results illustrate the role of hierarchical architecture in coral skeletons and the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on mechanical properties at different scales.