Grantee Research Project Results
1998 Progress Report: Development of Environmental Assessment, Mitigation and Restoration Techniques for Coral Reefs
EPA Grant Number: R825158Title: Development of Environmental Assessment, Mitigation and Restoration Techniques for Coral Reefs
Investigators: Richmond, Robert H.
Institution: University of Guam
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: October 19, 1996 through October 20, 1999
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 19, 1997 through October 20, 1998
Project Amount: $353,724
RFA: Ecological Assessment (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Aquatic Ecosystems
Objective:
1. To improve techniques used for the assessment of coral reef health and sustainability. 2. To develop appropriate coral reef biomonitoring protocols. 3. To develop techniques for coral reef restoration and guidelines for mitigation of anthropogenic disturbance. 4. To develop a set of criteria for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for activities occurring on or adjacent to coral reefs, or within watersheds that may affect coastal coral reef ecosystems. These objectives are being addressed through the following questions: 1. What are appropriate criteria for determining coral reef health and sustainability, and how can these measurements be made given the level of expertise available to the relevant jurisdictions? 2. Can selected coral species be used as effective bioindicators of reef health? 3. Are certain life history stages of corals and coral reef organisms more sensitive to changes in water and substratum quality than others, and if so, what can be done to reduce threats to the more sensitive stages? 4. Can corals be cultivated in sufficient quantities to allow for their use in bioassays with adequate statistical power, while avoiding the depletion of natural reef resources? 5. Can techniques for cultivating corals be applied to reef restoration? The research focuses on three categories of anthropogenic disturbances most relevant to coral reefs: sewage and related eutrophication problems, sedimentation, and coastal pollution from pesticide use and runoff.
Progress Summary:
Progress has been made on all aspects of the project. During the coral spawning events following the 1998 June and July full moons, gametes were collected from 11 species of scleractinian corals, and a number of fertilization and recruitment experiments were performed. Settlement preferences of larvae were determined for two additional species of corals: Acropora wardi and Leptoria phrygia, with planulae of the former induced by the crustose coralline alga Hydrolithon reinboldi, while the latter were induced by both crustose coralline algae as well as biotic (diatomaceous) films. Recruits of all 11 species were successfully raised through the multiple-polyp stage and acquisition of zooxanthellae. Survivorship of the young colonies is being monitored, and a number of these recruits will be transplanted into the field in November 1998.
Using coral larvae reared from the spawning events, bioassays were performed using metamorphic induction as the test of effect of the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fluoranthine. Chlorpyrifos was found to inhibit settlement and metamorphosis (recruitment) of larvae of the coral Goniastrea retiformis at levels as low as 5 parts-per-billion (ppb) when the preferred substrata were exposed, as well as when larvae were exposed and subsequently offered unexposed substrata. Fluoranthine was found to affect metamorphic induction/recruitment of Acropora wardii larvae at levels of 50 ppb.
The program to study effects of the sewage outfalls and eutrophication on corals is progressing. Cohorts of corals (Pocillopora damicornis) were raised from larvae, alizarin red-stained and photographed for growth measurements, and transplanted to the outfall site and two reference sites in August 1998. Additionally, branches were set out in a similar manner to test size/age effects on survivorship and growth. Adult corals will soon be placed at the sites for a study of potential effects on fecundity.
The grant also has been used to develop appropriate policies based on scientific data. Regular meetings have been held with the Principal Investigator (PI) and representatives from the regulatory agencies on Guam: Guam EPA, the Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, the Coastal Zone Management Program, and the Guam Waterworks Authority. Additionally, the PI was invited as the Pacific Scientific Representative for the first meeting of the United States Coral Reef Task Force established under Executive Order 13089, "Coral Reef Protection," signed on June 11, 1998, at the National Ocean Conference.
Opportunities for public participation have also been made available through our continued participation in the International Reef Check Program. On August 30, 1998, after completing a 4-hour training session, 35 volunteer divers and 9 scientist team leaders performed community-based coral reef surveys at three different sites with support from this grant. The results were presented locally and were entered into the international database maintained in Hong Kong. During the June spawning event, using a simplified set of protocols developed under this grant, a workshop was held for Pacific Islanders on coral cultivation and reef restoration, supported by the Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs.
Central issues being addressed by the research are the validity of present techniques being used to assess toxicity of pollutants on coral reefs and the development of appropriate indicators and protocols. We have determined that different life-history stages of corals demonstrate differential sensitivities to pollutants. Water-soluble pollutants are particularly problematic to egg-sperm interactions, while lipophilic substances can interfere with recruitment (settlement and metamorphosis). We are continuing to work with Federal and local government agencies as well as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to develop appropriate criteria, protocols, and guidelines for assessing and protecting coral reef resources.
Future Activities:
The coral transplants will be placed out in the field within the next month. Another series of pesticide bioassays is planned for November 1998. The cultivated corals are being monitored for growth rates and survivorship. Additional reproductive data are being collected for other species with potential for use in bioassays. An experiment to determine effects of sewage discharge/eutrophication on fecundity of selected corals is due to begin in November 1998.
Journal Articles on this Report : 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 44 publications | 7 publications in selected types | All 5 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Pennisi E. Meeting briefs - Coral reefs dominate integrative biology meeting. Science 1998, Volume: 279 , Number: 5352 (FEB 6) , Page: 807-809. |
R825158 (1998) R825158 (Final) |
not available |
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Peters EC, Gassman NJ, Firman JC, Richmond RH, Power EA. Ecotoxicology of tropical marine ecosystems. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 1997;16(1):12-40 (Annual Review issue). |
R825158 (1998) R825158 (Final) |
not available |
Supplemental Keywords:
coral reefs, larvae, sewage, pesticides, bioassays., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Hydrology, Water & Watershed, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Ecosystem Protection, Monitoring/Modeling, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Wet Weather Flows, Environmental Monitoring, Ecological Risk Assessment, International, Watersheds, Ecological Indicators, aquatic ecosystem, hydrologic dynamics, environmental restoration, risk assessment, anthropogenic stresses, coastal ecosystem, marine ecosystem, coastal watershed, biodiversity, adverse impacts, aquatic biota , biomarkers, coral reefs, ecosystem assessment, coral reef ecosystem restoration, runoff, aquatic degradation, coastal environments, economic adaptation strategies, biomonitoring, water quality, aquatic ecosystems, Pacific Ocean, fish , restoration techniques, mitigationRelevant Websites:
http://live.guam.net (Click on "coral spawning" banner.)
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.