You are here:
EFFECTS OF DRILLING MUD ON THE REEF-BUILDING CORAL 'MONTASTREA ANNULARIS'
Citation:
Dodge, R. EFFECTS OF DRILLING MUD ON THE REEF-BUILDING CORAL 'MONTASTREA ANNULARIS'. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-82/290 (NTIS PB83182956), 1982.
Description:
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 week's continuous flow-through exposure in laboratory aquaria to treatments of 0, 1, 10 and 100-ppm (microliters/liter) 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.