Bioerosion of Porites coral by Lithophaga bivalve in the eastern tropical Pacific: Interactive effects in an island reef.

Coral reefs are maintained by a balance between formation (calcifiers) and destructive processes (dissolution and erosion). In eastern tropical Pacific reefs, Porites genus is the second-largest contributor to CaCO production, but is affected by bioerosion. In this study, we evaluate the interaction between Lithophaga and Porites in an island reef in the Mexican Pacific by quantifying bioerosion rate, its impact on CaCO production, and contrasting growth models.