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The bright-red sponge Pione cf. vastifica (Clionaidae) inhabits the Red Sea coral reefs. It excavates into the calcareous substrate by chemically etching out particles. The separated non-dissolved calcareous chips are then removed through the sponge's large oscula (outflow openings). The rate of reef bioerosion by this sponge and the ratio between chemical dissolution versus mechanical chip removal were examined simultaneously (see article by A. Zundelevich, B. Lazar and M. Ilan, pp. 91 −96). The findings indicate that for each mass of CaCO3 chips that P. cf. vastifica produces during its boring activity, it dissolves three masses of reef CaCO3 framework.

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