1. The Effect of Motor Oil After Two Weeks of Exposure
GROUP TWO:
Rebecca Isaacs
Gianni Benmussa
Monica Gonzalez
Jessica Kurth
Karan Srivastava
Chelsea Werner

2. PROTEIN CONCENTRATION:
From 9/20/06:
From 9/27/06:
Decrease

3. PROTEIN CONCENTRATION (mg protein/g wt. weight)
Our zooxanthellae count has decreased over the weeklong exposure to motor oil
Up until this point, variation in density has been accounted for by range in polyp size
Now we may be seeing the effect of motor oil on our aiptasia
DATE
POLYP WIEGHT
(grams)
ZOOX. COUNT
(cells/g wt. wieght)
PROTEIN CONCENTRATION
(mg protein/g wt. weight)
CHLOROPHYLL
(Chl a/zoox)
9/20/06
0.04
212.5 E 6
8.764
6.15 E -8
9/27/06
0.124
64.9 E 6
1.64
0.193 E -8
The levels of zooxanthellae, protein, and chlorophyll have all decreased since the exposure of the aiptasia to the motor oil

4. It appears that while there may be some loss in biological activity, but there is no visible bleaching of the coral
One constant observation we have made since adding our variable has been the consistent rise in salinity each time we check the tank
Usually around 40 ppt
Add 250 mL distilled water each time
We plan on keeping the current 1% concentration of oil mL - for another week depending on today’s lab results

5. Background Image Sources: www.seaslugforum.net/images/100538b.jpg
“The closer coral reefs are to ports, oil wells, urban areas, shipping lanes, and other developed areas, the more threatened they are.”
-From The Dead Coral Diver by Curtis Runyan (
Background Image Sources: 3. 4.