Nitrate increases zooxanthellae population density and reduces skeletogenesis in corals

Very little information exists on the effects of nitrate on corals, although this is the major form in which nitrogen is prescrit in tropical eutrophie coastal waters. In this study we incubated nubbins ofPorites porites and explants ofMontastrea annularis in laboratory photostats illuminated by halide lamps, with concentrations of nitrate of 0, 1, 5 and 20 M, for 40 and 30 d, respectively, At the end of this period it was found that the population density of the zooxanthellae had increased significantly with increased nitrate concentration, suggesting nitrogen limitation of the growth rate of zooxanthellae in the control group. There were also significant increases in the amount of chlorophylla ande ₂ per algal cell, in the volume of the algal cells, and in the protein per cell. Overall, the protein per unit surface increased, but this was attributable solely to increased algal protein: there was no significant change in host protein. Maximum gross photosynthesis normalized to surface area was enhanced by nitrate addition, reflecting the increase in algal population density. There was no change when normalized on a per cell basis. Respiration rate normalized to protein content was decreased by nitrate. The most dramatic change was in the rate of skeletogenesis, which decreased by in both species when exposed to nitrate enrichment. A model is presented which suggests that the diffusion-limited supply of CO₂ from surrounding seawater is used preferentially by the enlarged zooxanthellae population for Photosynthesis, thereby reducing the availability of inorganic carbon for calcification. It is concluded that enhanced nitrate levels in tropical coastal waters will have a hitherto unrecognized effect on the growth rate of tropical coral reefs.     

Influence of UV radiation on the survival of larvae from broadcast-spawning reef corals

Effects of ambient ultraviolet light on the survivorship of eggs and planulae larvae was investigated for three species of broadcast-spawning reef corals, Acropora palmata, Montastraea annularis, and M. franksi. Eggs and larvae from these corals contain high concentrations of lipids (60–70% by weight) and float in surface waters for 3–4 days following spawning. Larvae originating from colonies living at deeper sites on the reef exhibited significantly lower survivorship than conspecifics originating from parents in shallow water when experimentally exposed for up to 4 days to ambient surface levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Concentrations of the UVR-protective compounds correlated positively with survival and matched concentrations found in parent colonies, implying that higher concentrations of ultraviolet B protective compounds are responsible for greater survival of eggs and larvae from shallow compared to deeper-dwelling parents. Ultraviolet B appears to be responsible for most of the observed differences in larval survivorship with ultraviolet A playing a minor or insignificant role. Data presented here indicate that coral recruits on Caribbean reefs and elsewhere may originate primarily from adult colonies dwelling in shallow water.Communicated by P.W. Sammarco, Chauvin     

Effect of acclimatization to low temperature and reduced light on the response of reef corals to elevated temperature

This study tested the effects of acclimatization on the response of corals to elevated temperature, using juvenile massive Porites spp. and branching P. irregularis from Moorea (W149°50′, S17°30′). During April and May 2006, corals were acclimatized for 15 days to cool (25.7°C) or ambient (27.7°C) temperature, under shaded (352 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹) or ambient (554 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹) natural light, and then incubated for 7 days at ambient or high temperature (31.1°C), under ambient light (659 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹). The response to acclimatization was assessed as biomass, maximum dark-adapted quantum yield of PSII (F _v/F _m), and growth, and the effect of the subsequent treatment was assessed as F _v/F _m and growth. Relative to the controls (i.e., ambient temperature/ambient light), massive Porites spp. responded to acclimatization through increases in biomass under ambient temperature/shade, and low temperature/ambient light, whereas P. irregularis responded through reduced growth under ambient temperature/shade, and low temperature/ambient light. Acclimatization affected the response to thermal stress for massive Porites spp. (but not P. irregularis), with an interaction between the acclimatization and subsequent treatments for growth. This interaction resulted from a lessening of the negative effects of high temperature after acclimatizing to ambient temperature/shade, but an accentuation of the effect after acclimatizing to low temperature/shade. It is possible that changes in biomass for massive Porites spp. are important in modulating the response to high temperature, with the taxonomic variation in this effect potentially resulting from differences in morphology. These results demonstrate that corals can acclimatize during short exposures to downward excursions in temperature and light, which subsequently affects their response to thermal stress. Moreover, even con-generic taxa differ in this capacity, which could affect coral community structure. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Response of zooxanthellae in symbiosis with the Mediterranean corals Cladocora caespitosa and Oculina patagonica to elevated temperatures

Scleractinian symbiotic corals living in the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea) have experienced warm summers during the last decade, with temperatures rapidly increasing, within a few days, to 3–4°C above the mean value of 24°C. The effect of elevated temperatures on the photosynthetic efficiency of zooxanthellae in symbiosis with temperate corals has not been well investigated. In this study, the corals, Cladocora caespitosa and Oculina patagonica were collected in the Ligurian Sea (44°N, 9°E), maintained during 2 weeks at the mean summer temperature of 24°C and then exposed during 48 h to temperatures of 24 (control), 27, 29 and 32°C. Chlorophyll (chl) fluorescence parameters [F _v/F _m, electron transport rate (ETR), non-photochemical quenching (NPQ)] were measured using pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorimetry before, during the thermal increase, and after 1 and 7 days of recovery (corals maintained at 24°C). Zooxanthellae showed a broad tolerance to temperature increase, since their density remained unchanged and there was no significant reduction in their maximum quantum yield (F _v/F _m) or ETR up to 29°C. This temperature corresponded to a 5°C increase compared to the mean summer temperature (24°C) in the Ligurian Sea. At 32°C, there was a significant decrease in chl contents for both corals. This decrease was due to a reduction in the chl/zooxanthellae content. For C. caespitosa, there was also a decrease in ETR_max, not associated with a change in F _v/F _m or in the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ); for O. patagonica, both ETR_max and F _v/F _m significantly decreased, and NPQ_max showed a significant increase. Damages to the photosystem II appeared to be reversible in both corals, since F _v/F _m values returned to normal after 1 day at 24°C. Zooxanthellae in symbiosis with the Mediterranean corals investigated can therefore be considered as resistant to short-term increases in temperature, even well above the maximum temperatures experienced by these corals in summer.     

The effect of inhibitors of photosynthesis on zooxanthellae in corals and other marine invertebrates

The effect of the selective photosynthesis inhibitors Monuron (CMU), Diuron (DCMU) and methyl viologen on intact algal-marine invertebrate symbiotic associations was studied. CMU or DCMU (5x10^-4M) completely inhibited photosynthesis, both in intact branches, and in suspensions of isolated zooxanthellae from the reef-building coral Pocillopora damicornis. The inhibitory effect was totally reversible in 1 to 3 h after removal of the inhibitor. Similar inhibition of photosynthesis occurred in 8 other marine coelenterates symbiotic with zooxanthellae, and in 1 marine gastropod symbiotic with functional chloroplasts. Neither CMU nor DCMU appeared to affect behavior of the various hosts, such as swimming, phototaxis, phototropism, photoreception, tentacle contraction, ciliary beating and locomotion. Methyl viologen, however, was ineffective in inhibiting photosynthesis in intact P. damicornis at low concentrations, and lethal to the tissues at high concentrations. These observations indicate that CMU and DCMU are potential useful tools for investigation of symbiotic associations. DCMU (5x10^-4M) also reversibly inhibited light-enhanced calcification in P. damicornis. This strongly suggests that light-enhanced calcification is largely photosynthesis dependent, and probably not dependent on some other photobiological effect.Contribution No. 385, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii     

Effects of light of altered spectral composition on coral zooxanthellae associations and on zooxanthellae in vitro

Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus) and Montipora verrucosa (Lamarck) were collected from Hawaiian reefs. In two experiments (September 1979-January 1980: ca. 4 mo; August-October 1980; ca. 2 mo), these reef corals were grown under sunlight passed through filters producing light fields of similar quantum flux but different spectral composition. In vitro cultures of symbiotic zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium microadriaticum Freudenthal) from M. verrucosa were cultured under similar conditions for 15 d. Blue or white light promoted more coral skeletal growth than green or red light. In both coral species, blue light increased the total amount of chlorophyll a of the coral-zooxanthellae association. In the perforate species, M. verrucosa, the pigment concentration was elevated by an increase in the density of zooxanthellae, but the pigment concentrations per algal cell remained unchanged; in the non-perforate species, P. damicornis, it appears that pigment concentration was elevated by an increase in pigment per algal cell, and not by an increase in density of zooxanthellae. The sunloving reef-flat coral P. damicornis did not grow as rapidly as the shade-species M. verrucosa at the low quantum flux (about 10% sunlight) provided by the experimental treatments. The in vitro cultures of zooxanthellae from M. verrucosa exhibited growth rates in light of altered spectral quality that correlated with the responses of the host coral species: blue and white light supported significantly greater growth than green light, and red light resulted in the lowest growth rate.Contribution No. 678 of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology     

Variation in biometry and population density of solitary corals with solar radiation and sea surface temperature in the Mediterranean Sea

The correlation between two environmental factors (solar radiation and sea surface temperature), biometry, and population density was assessed along a latitudinal gradient in the zooxanthellate coral Balanophyllia europaea and in the azooxanthellate coral Leptopsammia pruvoti. With increasing polyp size, the oral disc of B. europaea assumed an oval shape, while that of L. pruvoti retained a circular shape. In both species, biometric parameters varied more with temperature than with solar radiation. In the zooxanthellate species, temperature explained a higher percentage of biometric parameter variance than in the azooxanthellate species. While environmental factors did not co-vary with demographic characteristics in L. pruvoti, temperature was negatively related to the population density of B. europaea. It is hypothesized that the negative effect of temperature on biometry and population density of B. europaea depends on photosynthesis inhibition of symbiotic zooxanthellae at high temperatures, which would lower the calcification rate and availability of energetic resources.     

Some factors influencing selective release of soluble organic material by zooxanthellae from reef corals

Studies were carried out to determine optimum conditions for the investigation of symbiotic zooxanthellae in vitro and to gain insight into factors influencing release of photosynthate by the symbionts. Zooxanthellae isolated from the reef coral Agaricia agaricites and incubated with an homogenate of host tissue release twice as much photosynthate as controls in seawater. The animal homogenate retained its stimulatory activity for 3 h at room temperature (ca. 26°C). Release of photosynthate was markedly influenced by time after isolation of algae from the host, variation in homogenate concentration, and prolonged exposure to homogenate. Release was not influenced by cell concentration, light intensity, or glycerol in the incubation medium. If zooxanthellae are labelled in vitro with glucose ¹⁴C, the principle product released is alanine ¹⁴C. The mechanism of action of homogenate on zooxanthellae in vitro is discussed in terms of its effect on algal cell membrane permeability. A preliminary fractionation of host homogenate is described.     

Lipid content of some Caribbean corals in relation to depth and light

Three procedures for the extraction of coral lipids were compared and a rapid and effective method for future use is suggested. This method was used to measure the lipid content of the branching coral Porites porites (Pallas) and the massive corals Montastrea annularis (Ellis and Solander) and Siderastrea siderea (Ellis and Solander) during July and August 1991. P. porites and M. annularis were sampled on two fringing reefs, each characterised by different water quality affecting light transmission, and at depths of down to 30 m on a barrier reef on the west coast of the island. m. annularis contained, on average, 29% of dry weight as lipid, and there were no significant differences in lipid levels between corals sampled on either fringing reef at 3 and 6 m, or between fringing reefs and the barrier reef at 13, 20 or 30 m depth. Five samples were also taken from a single massive colony of S. siderea at 3 m on a fringing reef and at 13, 20 and 30 m depth on the barrier reef. Values for lipid ranged from 26 to 35% of dry tissue weight. P. porites from 3 and 6 m depth on both fringing reefs contained the same amount of lipid (11% of dry tissue weight). However, at 13 m depth on the barrier reef this coral contained significantly less lipid (8.5% of dry tissue weight). This difference may be attributable to a higher nutritional intake by P. porites on the fringing reefs.     

Sexual reproduction in solitary corals: Synchronous gametogenesis and broadcast spawning in Paracyathus stearnsii

Samples of the temperate solitary coral Paracyathus stearnsii Verrill, 1869 were collected monthly or bimonthly from January 1977 to September 1978 off the California coast. This species is gonochoric and reproduces only sexually. Females produce a large number of small eggs (ca. 10⁵ per polyp) in gametogenic synchrony and both sexes spawn between February and May. A small planktonic planula (ca. 160 m long) develops following external fertilization. Broadcast spawning with planktonic development may be more common than previously assumed in scleractinians, and includes both lecithotrophic and planktotrophic larvae.     

Intra-colonial variability in light acclimation of zooxanthellae in coral tissues of Pocillopora damicornis

We investigated heterogeneity of light acclimation of photosynthesis in sun- and shade-adapted coenosarc and polyp tissues of Pocillopora damicornis. The zooxanthellar community within P. damicornis colonies at Heron Island is genetically uniform, yet they showed a large degree of plasticity in their photo-physiological acclimation linked to light microclimates characterised by fibre-optic microprobes. Microscale scalar irradiance measurements showed higher absorption in polyp than coenosarc tissues and higher absorption in the more densely pigmented shade-adapted polyps than in sun-adapted polyps. The combination of an O₂ microelectrode with a fibre-optic microprobe (combined sensor diameter 50–100 μm) enabled parallel measurements of O₂ concentration, gross photosynthesis rate and photosystem II (PSII) quantum yield at the coral surface under steady-state conditions as a function of increasing irradiances. Lower O₂ levels at the tissue surface and higher compensation irradiance indicated a higher respiration activity in sun-adapted polyp tissue as compared to shade-adapted polyps. Shade-adapted coenosarc and polyp tissues exhibited lower maxima of relative electron transport rates (rETR_max) (84±15 and 41±10, respectively) than sun-adapted coenosarc and polyp tissues (136±14 and 77±13, respectively). Shade-adapted tissues showed stronger decrease of rETR at high scalar irradiances as compared to sun-adapted tissues. The relationship between the relative PSII electron transport and the rate of gross photosynthesis, as well as O₂ concentration, was non-linear in sun-adapted tissues over the entire irradiance range, whereas for shade-adapted tissues the relationship became non-linear at medium to high scalar irradiances >200 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹. This suggests that rETR measurements should be used with caution in corals as a proxy for photosynthesis rates. The apparently high rates of photosynthesis (oxygen evolution rates) suggest that there must be a considerable electron transport rate through the photosystems that is not observed by the rETR measurements. This may be accounted for by vertical heterogeneity of zooxanthellae in the tissue and the operation of an alternative electron pathway such as cyclic electron flow around PSII.     

Impact of excess and harmful radiation on energy budgets in scleractinian corals

Using dynamic energy budget (DEB) theory, this paper explores the potential of excess and harmful radiation, notably UV, to cause changes in performance and, ultimately, bleaching in scleractinian corals for a range of ambient nitrogen and (beneficial) photosynthetically active radiation levels. Two negative impacts of radiation are considered: a reduction in the capacity of the symbiont to generate energy through photosynthesis (defined in this paper as photoinhibition); an increase in the costs for the symbiont to remain viable due to repair of damage (defined in this paper as photodamage). Model predictions indicate that although both types of impact reduce the growth potential of host and symbiont, photoinhibition predominantly affects host features, except at very low ambient nitrogen levels, under which conditions the severity of nitrogen limitation is so strong that a reduction in photosynthetic rates due to photoinhibition has minimal impact. In steady state, photoinhibition leads to a reduction in host biomass, and an increase in symbiont density, implying that photoinhibition (as defined in this paper) is unlikely to cause bleaching. In contrast, the impact of photodamage is mostly affecting symbiont features, including a decline in symbiont density. Thus, photodamage may contribute to coral bleaching. Furthermore, the model predicts that, with both photoinhibition and photodamage, an increasing ratio of harmful to beneficial radiation accelerates the suppression of growth rates of symbiont and host, implying that coral health deteriorates progressively faster with increasing harmful radiation, such as UVb.     

Effects of sheltering fish on growth of their host corals

Stony corals are the foundation species of tropical reefs, and their structures can harbor a diverse range of mutualist taxa that can confer important benefits, including provision of nutrients. Prominent among the associates of branching coral in the genus Pocillopora are groups of zooplanktivorous damselfishes that take refuge in the coral to avoid their predators. In field and laboratory experiments, we explored the effects of colonies of resident damselfishes on growth of their host corals. Laboratory studies revealed a positive relationship between biomass of fish and output of ammonium. In the field, levels of ammonium were significantly elevated in the water surrounding the branches of Pocillopora occupied by colonies of damselfish, particularly in time periods following active feeding by the fish. Experimental manipulation of the presence of fish on host corals during a month-long field experiment revealed that corals hosting fish grew significantly more than those that lacked fish, and coral growth was positively correlated with the biomass of resident fish. The Pocillopora colonies in the field experiment varied in the degree of openness of their branching structure, and dye studies indicated that this affected their ability to retain waterborne nutrients. Together with biomass of resident fish, colony openness explained 76% of the variation in coral growth rate during the experiment. Corals can exhibit considerable morphological variability, and mutualistic fish respond to colony architecture during habitat selection, with some species preferring more open-branched forms. This makes it likely that corals may face tradeoffs in attracting resident fish and in retaining the nutrients they provide.     

Sexual reproduction in solitary corals: Overlapping oogenic and brooding cycles,and benthic planulas in Balanophyllia elegans

The temperate solitary coral Balanophyllia elegans Verrill, 1864 was collected monthly between January 1977 and August 1978 off the California coast. B. elegans reproduces only sexually, is gonochoric, and broods its embryos. Males are ripe only in late summer, but oocytes and embryos (ca. 40 per female) are found throughout the year. The presence of oocytes and embryos throughout the year may be the result of very long, overlapping oocyte growth and embryonic developmental times. Large, crawling, benthic planulas are released mainly in the winter. The skeletal design of the corallum of B. elegans accommodates the brooding of unusually large embryos; this design may be indicative of brooding large embryos in other species of corals, particularly dendrophyllids.     

Effects of ambient levels of solar ultraviolet radiation on zooxanthellae and photosynthesis of the reef coral Montipora verrucosa

Paired flat plates of the hermatypic coral Montipora verrucosa from Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, were acclimated to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) only and to full sunlight (PAR+UV) for several weeks in the summer of 1990. After the acclimation period, photosynthesis, both in PAR-only and PAR+UV as well as dark respiration were measured. Levels of the UV-absorbing compounds, S320, density of zooxanthellae, and chlorophyll a concentration were determined. Corals acclimated in PAR+UV had higher levels of the UV-protective compounds and lower areal zooxanthellae densities than corals acclimated in PAR-only. Chlorophyll a per unit volume of coral host and per algal cell did not differ between corals from the two acclimation treatments. Corals acclimated to PAR+UV displayed higher photosynthesis in full sunlight than corals acclimated to PAR-only, but when photosynthesis was measured in the light regime to which the corals had been acclimated, there were no differences in photosynthesis. Dark respiration was the same for corals from the two acclimation treatments regardless of the light quality immediately preceding the dark period.Contribution No. 902 HIMB     

Effects of photoacclimation on the light niche of corals: a process-based approach

The ecology of photosynthetic organisms is influenced by the need to adjust the photosynthetic apparatus to variable light environments (photoacclimation). In this study, we quantified different components of the photoacclimation process for a reef-building coral (Turbinaria mesenterina, Lamarck, 1816): including, variation in absorption cross-section, size of photosynthetic units, turnover time, chlorophyll content, and colony respiration. We used these calibrations to characterize this species’ light niche, and to determine the sensitivity of the niche boundaries to different processes of photoacclimation. Results showed that the breadth of the light niche was most sensitive to the size of the photosynthetic unit, absorption cross-section, and rates of respiration. Habitats with the highest light availability did not lead to maximal energy acquisition. This was because, although corals acclimated to high light have high rates of photosynthesis per unit chlorophyll, their chlorophyll content was strongly reduced. This suggests that potential energetic benefits that could be achieved through increased light harvesting (i.e., increased chlorophyll content) in high-light habitats are outweighed by costs associated with photoprotection. Such costs appear to place an upper bound on the habitat distributions of coral species. Our approach reveals how the photophysiological processes involved in photoacclimation interact to determine the light niche.     

Fecal discharge of zooxanthellae in the giant clam Tridacna derasa, with reference to their in situ growth rate

The population dynamics of zooxanthellae living in the mantle of a giant clam, Tridacna derasa, was studied. The giant clams with shell lengths of 5 to 6 cm which had been reared in the Palau Mariculture Demonstration Center, in the Republic of Palau, were transferred to aquaria on deck of the R.V. “Sohgen-maru” and kept in running sea water at 29 to 30 °C. Two clams were removed from the aquaria, and zooxanthellae in the mantle were isolated every 2 h for 24 h. Numbers of the zooxanthellae in or not in the cell division stage were counted for calculations of the zooxanthellae population in the mantle and their mitotic index (MI). The MI increased after sunset and reached the maximum values of 6.1 to 11.5% at 03:00 to 05:00 hrs. The specific growth rate, μ, estimated from the MI was 0.083 to 0.14 d⁻¹. Five clams were kept in each of 2 Plexiglas containers in the aquarium for collection of the discharged feces every 3 to 4 h. The discharged zooxanthellae in the feces were counted. The zooxanthellae discharged in 24 h were 0.38 to 1.46% of the total zooxanthella population in the mantle, and 2.7 to 16.9% of the newly formed zooxanthella population in a day. Increase of zooxanthella population in the mantle was estimated from clam shell growth rate and from the correlation between zooxanthella population and clam shell size. Daily increase of zooxanthella population in the mantle was estimated to be approximately 7.6 to 19% of the newly formed zooxanthella population. Therefore, the sum of zooxanthellae populations accounting for daily increase in the mantle and discharge in the feces was 11 to 36% of the newly formed population. About 64 to 89% of the newly formed cells were missing; some of these may have been digested by the clam. Received: 14 July 1996 / Accepted: 19 August 1996     

Sensitivity and acclimation to UV radiation of zoospores from five species of Laminariales from the Arctic

Spores of five Laminariales from Arctic Spitsbergen were exposed in the laboratory to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; 400–700 nm), PAR+UVA radiation (UVAR; 320–400 nm) and PAR+UVAR+UVB radiation (UVBR; 280–320 nm). Subsequently, germination was monitored over periods of 3, 6 and 9 days. The investigated species were the upper sublittoral Saccorhiza dermatodea, the upper to mid-sublittoral Alaria esculenta and Laminaria digitata, the mid-sublittoral L. saccharina and the lower sublittoral L. solidungula. The germination capacity decreased sharply after 16 h exposure to PAR+UVAR+UVBR in all species. However, S. dermatodea was able to recover from the damaging effects of UVBR. There was also a small increase in percentage germination of A. esculenta 6–9 days after the treatment. No recovery was evident in the other species. After 8 h exposure to PAR+UVA+UVB, L. digitata recovered completely, and L. saccharina and L. solidungula, partially. The only species susceptible to PAR+UVAR was L. solidungula. One prominent cytological feature of UVR-exposed spores was the enlargement of phenolic vesicles (physodes) (particularly seen in S. dermatodea and A. esculenta), which may have a protective function against UVR. Pilot experiments under natural irradiance conditions indicate that the PAR component of solar radiation exerts an additional stress. Overall the data show that zoospores of the species from the upper sublittoral are less sensitive to UVR or have the capacity to recover from UV stress in contrast to species from deeper waters, probably due to their UV protective and repair capabilities.Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe     

Palatability of invertebrate larvae to corals and sea anemones

Risk of larval mortality is an underlying theme in debates and models concerning the ecology and evolution of the differing reproductive characteristics among marine benthic invertebrates. In these discussions, predation is often assumed to be a major source of larval mortality. Previous studies, focused primarily on planktotrophic larvae, suggested that marine larvae generally were susceptible to, and poorly defended against, planktivorous fishes and invertebrates. Larval-planktivore interactions involving larger and more conspicuous lecithotrophic larvae that are typical of many brooding sessile invertebrates have not been well studied. This lack of data for diverse larval types has hindered testing broad generalities about marine larvae and planktivore prey-preferences. This study demonstrates that lecithotrophic larvae of many Caribbean and temperate western Atlantic invertebrates are distasteful to co-occurring corals and anemones. These larval predators frequently rejected larvae of sponges (6 of 9 species), gorgonians (7 of 9 species), corals (3 of 3 species), hydroids (2 of 2 species) and a bryozoan. Larvae of three temperate colonial ascidians were readily consumed. Frequencies of survivorship for larvae captured but rejected by corals and anemones were generally high and, in 20 of 24 assays, were not statistically different from those of unattacked control larvae. Levels of metamorphosis (when it occurred) of rejected larvae also rarely differed significantly from those of unattacked controls. These results provide further evidence that larval palatability to predators may not be as high as once thought, particularly for brooded larvae of sessile colonial invertebrates. The means by which larvae may avoid or deter predators, and the demographic consequences for marine invertebrates and for the evolution of invertebrate life-history patterns, need to be assessed.     

Electrochemical degradation of Acid Red I dye and its treatment by UV light

Degradation of Acid Red I (ARI) dye by electrochemical treatment and UV light irradiation was studied in this work. The effect of the current density and the concentration of NaCl and dye on the decoloration and degradation efficiency were studied and optimized. The UV irradiation was monitored by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and chemical oxygen demand. The kinetic constants for decoloration and degradation were calculated. Degradation of 86% was achieved in 160?min and the first-order kinetic constant was 0.013?min^?1. Degradation products were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The mechanism for the degradation of ARI was proposed.