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CORAL RESPONSES TO CLIMATE AND LAND USE CHANGES
Citation:
Fisher, W, D L. Santavy, J E. Rogers, AND R G. Zepp. CORAL RESPONSES TO CLIMATE AND LAND USE CHANGES. Presented at SETAC World Congress, Portland, OR, November 14 - 18, 2004.
Impact/Purpose:
Conference abstract
Description:
Fisher, William S., Debbie L. Santavy, John E. Rogers and Richard G. Zepp. In press. Coral Responses to Climate and Land Use Changes (Abstract). To be presented at the SETAC Fourth World Congress, 14-18 November 2004, Portland, OR. 1 p. (ERL,GB R1019).
Coral reefs have experienced unprecedented levels of bleaching and disease during the last three decades. Several potential stressors have been identified, including elevated water temperature, increased exposure to solar radiation, and degraded water quality, each related in some manner to global climate or land use changes. Consequences of bleaching and disease vary; some corals recover, while others lose tissue, die, become diseased or succumb to algal overgrowth. EPA's Global Change Research Program is addressing potential vulnerabilities from multiple components of global change that could adversely affect coral reef ecosystems including: (1) climate variability and change; (2) changes in ultraviolet radiation; and (3) land use change. Worldwide coral bleaching has been linked to El Nino Southern Oscillation phases which can generate warm, stratified water conditions in certain geographic regions. During these "doldrum" periods, penetration of both PAR (400-700 nm) and UV-R 280-400 nm) wavelengths is increased. Light attenuation in water over the reefs is influenced by the composition of dissolved and particulate matter, the types and amounts of which are influenced by climate, weather, and land use patterns that increase sediments, nutrients, contaminants and microorganisms in the watershed and airshed. Integrated laboratory and field studies are employed to determine which corals, reefs and geographic regions are at greatest risk from bleaching, disease, tissue loss, and skeletal degradation, and which environmental factors are most responsible. Coral reefs in the Florida Keys have been surveyed for occurrence of bleaching and disease, and additional indicators are being applied across the Keys to characterize the status of coral condition. Studies on cultured symbiotic algae have demonstrated combined effects of temperature and UV-R on growth rates and survival. Laboratory studies are designed to compare the effects of temperature, light penetration, and water quality on various coral species from the Florida Keys.
Will be oral presentation.