Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

The Effects of Oil and Oil Dispersants on the Skeletal Growth of the Hermatypic Coral Diploria strigosa

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-1984

Publication Title

Coral Reefs

Keywords

Petroleum pollution, Coral reefs

ISSN

0722-4028

Volume

3

Issue/No.

4

First Page

191

Last Page

198

Abstract

Specimens of the hermatypic coral species Diploria strigosa were exposed to various concentrations (1–50 ppm) of oil or oil plus dispersant for 6–24 h periods in four laboratory and two field experiments. After dosing, corals were transplanted to, or left in, the field and recollected approximately one year later for extension (linear) growth analysis by the alizarin stain method. The experiments were designed to assess the long-term effects of brief low-level concentrations of chemically dispersed oil and oil alone on corals in a situation, for example, where an oil slick (treated and non-treated with dispersants) passes over a reef. No significant differences between extension growth parameters (Septa increase, Columella increase) and a calical shape parameter (New Endotheca Length) of treated corals versus controls were found in any of the experiments. In two summer experiments calical relief (Fossa length) was found to be depressed in corals of some of the experimental treatments.

Comments

©Springer-Verlag 1984

DOI

10.1007/BF00288254

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Peer Reviewed

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