Grantee Research Project Results
Final 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 Amount: $353,724
RFA: Ecological Assessment (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Aquatic Ecosystems
Objective:
The objectives of this research project were to:
(1) Improve techniques used for the assessment of coral reef health and
sustainability.
(2) Develop appropriate coral reef biomonitoring
protocols.
(3) Develop techniques for coral reef restoration and guidelines
for mitigation of anthropogenic disturbance.
(4) Develop a set of criteria
for EIA's and EIS's for activities occurring on or adjacent to coral reefs, or
within watersheds that may affect coastal coral reef ecosystems.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
A combination of field and laboratory techniques were developed and applied to assessing coral reef ecosystem health and sustainability. Species of scleractinian corals were found to be good ecological indicators, with differential sensitivity exhibited among life-history stages. Five chemically mediated links were identified in the coral life cycle that can be used to assess environmental quality: (1) synchronization among conspecific corals during mass-spawning events; (2) egg-sperm interactions; (3) embryological development; (4) metamorphic induction (settlement and recruitment); and (5) acquisition of zooxanthellae (algal symbionts). Coral gametes were collected from 11 species of scleractinian corals, and a number of fertilization and recruitment experiments were performed. The fertilization process has been substantially simplified, and quantification of sperm density is no longer required for production of larvae. Based on data collected from a variety of species, counts of gamete clusters are sufficient to allow cultivation of coral larvae with fertilization rates exceeding 90 percent.
Coral fertilization rates were documented to be affected by water quality, with salinity reductions of approximately 15 percent (to 28 ppt) resulting in up to an 80 percent drop in fertilization. The addition of pollutants, including lateritic soils at levels found in watershed discharges reaching existing reefs, caused a similar drop in fertilization rates coupled with a reduction in salinity of only 10 percent. Larval development also was found to be sensitive to salinity and water quality changes. Settlement preferences of larvae were determined for several species of corals, with planulae of some species induced primarily by the crustose coralline alga Hydrolithon reinboldi, while others displayed less specificity and were induced by both crustose coralline algae as well as biotic (diatomaceous) films.
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) fluoranthene. Chlorpyrifos was found to inhibit settlement and metamorphosis (recruitment) of larvae of the coral Goniastrea retiformis in some assays 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. Inconsistencies among replicated experiments indicated a need for further experimentation and control of the concentration of inducer available to larvae in such assays. Fluoranthene was found to affect metamorphic induction/recruitment of Acropora wardii larvae at levels of 50 ppb. The results of these experiments confirmed our concern that different life history stages exhibit differential sensitivities to potential pollutants, and that LC50 - 96 assays performed on adult corals are nonpredictive. Both chlorpyrifos and fluoranthene were found to have no effect on adult colonies of the coral Pocillpora damicornis at levels several orders of magnitude higher than those found to affect larval recruitment. Ecologically, 100 percent survivorship of adults and/or larvae, but 0 percent recruitment is equivalent to 100 percent mortality in terms of reef replenishment.
The experiments designed to study effects of sewage and eutrophication on corals demonstrated a statistically significant effect of genetic line. Cohorts of corals (Pocillopora damicornis) were raised from larvae, alizarin red stained, and photographed for growth measurements, and transplanted at a sewer outfall site and two reference sites. Additionally, branches were set out in a similar manner to test size/age effects on survivorship and growth. Analyses of the data found a greater effect of genetic line than proximity to the outfall for colonies of Pocillopora damicornis. This portion of the study demonstrated that this species is probably not a good indicator species, and indicated the importance of population genetics in such studies.
The information developed from the grant was used to develop appropriate policies based on scientific data. Regular meetings took place including the Principal Investigator 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) and neighboring islands including Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Recommendations on protection of coastal water quality surrounding coral reefs have been implemented in several jurisdictions. Guidelines for reef restoration efforts also were developed, with the key recommendation being restoration of conditions (water and substratum quality) that support natural recovery.
Opportunities for public participation also were made available, through our continued involvement in the international Reef Check program. During summer spawning events, using a simplified set of protocols developed on this grant, a workshop was held for Pacific Islanders on coral cultivation and reef restoration that was supported by the Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs. A "coral spawning" Web site (http://www.guam.net/pub/live_spawn) was established during the July 1997 spawning event, and continued in subsequent years. Actual spawning was live on the World Wide Web for 5 days, with an archive of shots developed for public education. The response was greater than anticipated with more than 1,000 hits during the spawning periods. Educational materials developed during the grant period are made available through this Web site.
In summary, all of the objectives identified in the proposal were addressed to some degree. Corals and specific life-history stages, were found to be suitable ecological indicators of coral reef health and provided predictive information that can be used to assess the management value of specific actions. Protocols were developed to test the effects of both water and substratum quality on coral reproduction, development, and recruitment. Fertilization, development, and algal symbiont acquisition bioassays were particularly well-suited for studies of water soluble compounds, while larval recruitment assays were good for hydrophobic/lipophilic substances. Coral cultivation techniques are practical and were simplified to allow larvae to be produced with basic equipment and supplies. Data on substratum preferences enhanced the ability to raise genetically controlled corals for bioassays and field transplantation exercises. Transplanted corals were good "canaries" for testing water quality; however, transplantation for restoration purposes remains of limited value compared with protection and restoration of conditions that support natural recovery. Finally, information was produced to provide additional guidance for the establishment of water and substratum quality criteria for coral reef ecosystems. Problems with the existing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process were identified, where conflicts-of-interest exist between consultants and those who pay for their services.
Journal Articles on this Report : 5 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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Jokiel PL, Richmond RH, Idechong N. Economic, political and cultural realities in the scientific management of reef resources in the Pacific Islands. Bulletin of Marine Science. |
R825158 (Final) |
not available |
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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 |
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Romano SL, Richmond RH. RAPD markers as a molecular tool for addressing the species problem in corals. Marine Biology. |
R825158 (Final) |
not available |
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Wolanski E, Richmond R, McCook L, Sweatman H. Mud, marine snow and coral reefs-The survival of coral reefs requires integrated watershed-based management activities and marine conservation. American Scientist 2003;91(1):44-51. |
R825158 (Final) R828008 (Final) |
Exit Exit Exit |
Supplemental Keywords:
coral reefs, larvae, sewage, pesticides, bioassays, marine, watersheds, ecological effects, genetic, population, restoration, ecosystem, indicators, PAHs, Pacific Islands, EPA Region 9, pollution., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Geographic Area, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Hydrology, Water & Watershed, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Ecosystem Protection, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Monitoring/Modeling, 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://www.guam.net/pub/live_spawn
(coral spawning information)
http://phylogeny.arizona.edu/tree/phylogeny.html
(a distributed internet project containing information about phylogeny and biodiversity)
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.