Effects of Drilling Mud on the Reef-Building Coral Montastrea annularis

Authors

Richard E. Dodge, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-1982

Publication Title

Marine Biology

Keywords

Montastrea annularis

ISSN

0025-3162

Volume

71

Issue/No.

2

First Page

141

Last Page

147

Abstract

The skeletal extension and corallite shape of individuals of the Caribbean and Atlantic reef-building coral Montastrea annularis (Ellis and Solander) were measured after more than six weeks' continuous flow-through exposure in laboratory aquaria to treatments of 0, 1, 10 and 100-ppm (μl 1^-1) drilling mud. Linear increase of the skeleton (extension rate) and fossa length were significantly depressed in the 100-ppm treatment. Chronic exposure to 100-ppm drilling mud impairs coral skeletal growth rate and possibly interferes with sediment rejection capability by lowering calical relief.

Comments

©Springer-Verlag 1982

Additional Comments

US EPA grant #: CR-807314-01-1

NSUWorks Citation

Dodge, R. E. 1982. "Effects of drilling mud on the reef-building coral Montastrea annularis." Marine Biology no. 71 (2):141-147. doi: 10.1007/BF00394622.

DOI

10.1007/BF00394622