Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Effect Of Dispersed Oil On The Calcification Rate Of The Reef-Building Coral Diploria Strigosa, Richard E. Dodge, A. H. Knap, Sheila C. Wyers, H. R. Frith, T. D. Sleeter, S. R. Smith

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

Hermatypic corals represent environmentally and economically important components of the reef ecosystem. Oil spills and clean-up operations in reef areas are potential sources of pollution impact. This paper presents an evaluation of the calcification rate of specimens of the reef-building coral Diploria strigosa in response to 24 hour treatments of chemically dispersed oil at concentrations of 20 ppm. The concentrations and durations were chosen to represent a scenario of a short-term oil spill treated with dispersant passing over a coral reef.

Calcification rates were determined by the buoyant weight technique at several day intervals for up to 29 days following …