<b>Dataset for: Depth-Dependent Microskeletal Features Modify Light Harvesting in </b><b><i>Turbinaria reniformis</i></b><b> Corals</b>

Coral skeletal morphology modulates light exposure in symbiotic algae, especially in light-limited environments like mesophotic reefs. However, quantifying light capture within complex coral structures remains challenging. Here, we used optical coherence tomography and high-resolution X-ray scanning to explore depth-dependent bio-optical properties of shallow and mesophotic <i>Turbinaria reniformis</i> corals from the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba, Red Sea. We identified two distinct skeletal layers: a highly scattering superficial layer and a deeper, more light-penetrating layer. Mesophotic corals showed higher scattering coefficients and a lower anisotropy of scattering values, yielding increased reflectivity. Regardless of depth, coenosteum grooves facilitated forward scattering, while protruding features such as spines and septa increased surface reflectivity and isotropic scattering. Light simulations demonstrated an enhanced fluence rate at the skeleton-water interface, with mesophotic corals enhancing the available light up to 2.7-fold. These findings suggest that microskeletal heterogeneity fine-tunes light capture at the microenvironmental scale, thereby enhancing light-harvesting efficiency across depth.珊瑚骨骼形态可调控共生藻类所接收的光照暴露量，在中光礁（mesophotic reefs）这类光照受限的环境中尤为显著。然而，量化复杂珊瑚结构内部的光捕获过程仍存在挑战。本研究采用光学相干断层扫描（optical coherence tomography）与高分辨率X射线扫描技术，对来自红海埃拉特-亚喀巴湾的浅海与中光海域盾形陀螺珊瑚（Turbinaria reniformis）的深度依赖性生物光学特性展开探究。我们鉴定出两种截然不同的骨骼层：高散射表层与更深层、更易透光的骨骼层。中光海域的珊瑚展现出更高的散射系数与更低的散射各向异性值，进而提升了反射率。无论所处水深如何，共骨沟槽（coenosteum grooves）均会促进前向散射；而棘刺、隔片（spines and septa）这类凸起结构则会增强表面反射率与各向同性散射。光模拟实验表明，骨骼-水界面处的光注量率（fluence rate）有所提升，中光海域的珊瑚可将可用光照提升至原水平的2.7倍。上述研究结果表明，微骨骼异质性可在微环境尺度下微调光捕获过程，进而提升不同水深下的光捕获效率。