SEMINAR: MBF 602 seminar- Phillip Gillette Friday, May 7th, 2010 3:30pm S/A seminar room LAST student seminar of the semester!

[Cary Rios <crios@rsmas.miami.edu>]

Intraspecific genetic variability in temperature tolerance in the coral Pocillopora damicornis: Effects on growth and survival

 

Coral reef ecosystems worldwide are in decline, with thermal stress representing one of the most significant threats. Corals typically thrive at temperatures of 26-27ºC, with extremely high (>32 ºC) and low (<18 ºC) temperatures usually leading to coral bleaching and/or mortality.  Effects are characteristically variable between colonies, however, and it is not yet known to what extent this variability is due to differential sensitivity of coral genotypes/clones. The current study is designed to investigate the effect of four different temperatures (18ºC, 26ºC, 30ºC and 32ºC) on six genets of Pocillopora damicornis from Panama.  The 9-week experiment will be held in four semi-recirculating systems maintained at ± 0.2ºC.  Corals will be cleaned and their positions randomized within tanks once per week. Treatments will also be rotated among tanks every three weeks to reduce potential tank effects.  Measurements of growth (using optical micrometry and photometry), and photosynthetic efficiency (using fluorometry) will be taken every three weeks, and algal symbiont (Symbiodinium) communities identified (using real-time PCR). All temperatures will be ramped from ambient 26ºC to the treatment temperature at a rate of 0.5ºC per day, determined by preliminary experimentation as an optimal rate to distinguish thermal response. The feasibility of developing a color scale to non-destructively estimate Symbiodinium densities has also been demonstrated.  A proper understanding of thermal tolerance in corals is important ecologically, and vital in light of future climate change.  The ability to identify thermally tolerant genotypes may prove invaluable for coral reef managers and scientists concerned with maximizing the resilience of coral reefs to climate change.

 

 

Phillip Gillette

B.S. Marine Science, University of Miami, 2004

Entered Master’s Program Fall 2006

Advisor: Dr. Andrew Baker

Cary Rios 
Graduate Studies Office
University of Miami
Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science

4600 Rickenbacker Cswy
S/A 132
Miami, FL 33149
Locator Code: VK
P. 305.421.4920
F. 305.421.4771
http://www.rsmas.miami.edu
crios@rsmas.miami.edu 

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