Paleo Slide Set: Coral Paleoclimatology:Natural Record of Climate change for High School Student
Colonies of Pavona clavus and branching coral Pocillopora robusta, Baja California.

The branching coral Pocillopora robusta that you see in the edges of this photo, are beautiful but not 
particularly useful for paleoclimatic research. Others, like the massive coral Pavona clavus that 
dominates this picture, are perfect candidates: large, easily sliced open and sometimes hundreds of 
years old. These characteristics generate enough information to produce a long and interesting climatic record. 

Photo Credits:
Jerry Wellington 
Department of Biology, University of Houston