Title

Cellular Diagnostics And Coral Health: Declining Coral Health In The Florida Keys

Keywords

Biomarker; Cellular diagnostics; Coral; Coral health; Florida Keys

Abstract

Coral reefs within the Florida Keys are disappearing at an alarming rate. Coral cover in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary declined by 38% from 1996 to 2000. In 2000, populations of Montastraea annularis at four sites near Molasses Reef within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and one reef within Biscayne National Park were sampled on a quarterly basis. Anecdotal observations showed corals at Alina's Reef in Biscayne National Park appeared healthy in March, but experienced an acute loss of coral cover by August. Cellular Diagnostic analysis indicated that Alina's Reef corals were in distress: they had been afflicted with a severe oxidative damaging and protein-denaturing stress that affected both the corals and their symbiotic zooxanthellae. This condition was associated with a significant xenobiotic detoxification response in both species, reflecting probable chemical contaminant exposure. These results demonstrate that applying a Cellular Diagnostic approach can be effective in helping to identify stress and its underlying causes, providing diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of coral health. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication Date

11-22-2005

Publication Title

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Volume

51

Issue

5-7

Number of Pages

558-569

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2005.04.017

Socpus ID

27744589896 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/27744589896

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