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Marine Biology Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Marine Biology

Saving The Planet Begins With Saving The Coral Reefs, Marla Maconochie Dec 2017

Saving The Planet Begins With Saving The Coral Reefs, Marla Maconochie

Honors Projects

This honors project uses a children’s book format to aid in explaining the importance of saving the coral reefs. This book will be informing the younger generations about important, yet complicated issues at hand in a way that they can understand and relate to. The book explains how coral reefs are important for oxygen production, biodiversity, research opportunities, protection of coastal environments and for the economy. The children’s book explains how human activities and natural stressors can impact coral survivorship. The book explains how overfishing allows for excessive algal growth that smothers corals and tackles how coral bleaching occurs and …


Effects Of Ocean Warming And Acidification On Fertilization Success And Early Larval Development In The Green Sea Urchin, Lytechinus Variegatus, Brittney L. Lenz Dec 2017

Effects Of Ocean Warming And Acidification On Fertilization Success And Early Larval Development In The Green Sea Urchin, Lytechinus Variegatus, Brittney L. Lenz

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Climate change is predicted to affect the larval stages of many marine organisms. Ocean warming can reduce larval survival and hasten larval development, whereas ocean acidification can delay larval development. Ocean acidification is especially concerning for marine organisms that develop and grow calcified shells or skeletons in an environment undersaturated with calcium carbonate minerals. This study assessed the effects of ocean warming and acidification on the fertilization and larval development of the green sea urchin, Lytechinus variegatus, a tropical species common in Florida and the Caribbean. After spawning, gametes were fertilized and embryos/larvae were reared at: 1) 28°C and …


Investigating The Effects Of Decreased Ph On The Intertidal Shore Crab, Hemigrapsus Nudus, Avni Gandhi May 2017

Investigating The Effects Of Decreased Ph On The Intertidal Shore Crab, Hemigrapsus Nudus, Avni Gandhi

Honors Theses

Ocean acidification has emerged as an issue for marine organisms, due to increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. In particular, invertebrates with calcium carbonate exoskeletons seem to be at risk. Our research investigates the potential effect of decreased pH on the weight of Hemigrapsus nudus, a species of intertidal crab found in Northern California. Over a 6 week period, crabs were maintained in individual containers with recirculating chilled seawater at 12.7°C. The control aquaria was maintained at 8.1 pH, while the experimental aquaria averaged a pH of 7.5. Crabs were weighed at two week intervals, preliminary information shows the …