Interspace Mineralization Within Bilayered Organic Matrix of Deep-Sea Bamboo Coral (Anthozoa: Gorgonacea: Isididae)

Abstract

Bamboo corals are the representatives of the Gorgonacea order within Isidids octocorals. Opposed to corals from the Scleractinia order, in which the biomineralization process has been well evaluated, the mineralization in the Isididae corals is still not fully understood. The interspace mineralization process in the deep-sea bamboo corals bilayered organic matrix is described and analyzed.