Digital correction of computed X-radiographs for coral densitometry Duprey, Nicolas /Boucher, Hugues Jimenez, C. Calcification rate Coral densitometry Coral skeleton Density Porites sp. Siderastrea siderea The recent increase in sea surface temperature and ocean acidification raises major concerns about the evolution of the coral calcification rate. Digitized X-radiographs have been used for coral skeleton density measurements since the 1980s. The main limitation of coral densitometry from digitized X-radiographs is the X-ray intensity heterogeneity due to spherical spreading (inverse square law) and heel effect. Until now, extra X-ray images or aluminum standards have been used to correct X-radiographs. However, such corrective methods may be constraining when working with a high number of coral samples. Here, we present an inexpensive, straightforward, and accurate digital detrending (DD) method to correct the heterogeneities of the X-ray irradiation that affect X-radiographs. The X-radiograph is corrected against the irradiation imprint recorded by its own background using a kriging interpolation method, thus allowing reliable optical density measurements directly on the corrected X-ray image. This digital detrending (DD) method was validated using skeletal bulk density measurements and computerized tomography (CT). Coral densitometry using DD corrected X-radiographs does not require the destruction of the coral sample and provides high-resolution measurements. Since DD does not require extra aluminum standards to correct X-radiographs, this method optimizes the working space available on the X-ray image. Moreover, it corrects the entire X-radiograph, thus larger samples or numerous samples can be X-rayed at the same time. 2012 text https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010058216 fdi:010058216 Duprey Nicolas, Boucher Hugues, Jimenez C.. Digital correction of computed X-radiographs for coral densitometry. 2012, 438, 84-92 EN COSTA RICA NOUVELLE CALEDONIE ??