1. SC400 RESEARCH PROPOSAL PRESENTATION: Sri Nandini S11041146
Investigation of coral bleaching of Acropora longicyathus caused by high Solar Irradiance during ambient temperatures in the Beqa Lagoon.

2. Outline Introduction Relevancy Of The Topic Research Objectives
Map (Research Site)
Methodology
Pre Test & Sampling
Data Processing
Experimental Design
Data Collection Tools & Techniques
Data Analysis
Results
Key References
Questions & Answers

3. Introduction What is a coral? What is Bleaching?
A “coral” is actually a “coral colony”
Surface is covered by thousands of tiny coral animals
called “polyps”
Polyps are filled with microscopic algae
(symbiotic dinoflagellates or zooxanthallae)
What is Bleaching?
dissociation of the symbiosis between corals and their symbiotic dinoflagellates.
causes a loss of pigmentation due to decreased numbers of symbiotic dinoflagellates, a reduction in photosynthetic pigments, or both (Hoegh-Guldberg 1999), which causes a breakdown of the photosynthesis of the zooxanthellate. (Brown 1997a, Hoegh- Guldberg 1999 Lesser 1996; Brown 2008; Fitt 2009)
Factors: Chemical and Physical

4. Solar induced partial bleaching
Upper sides of colonies tending to bleach first and with the greatest intensity (Hoegh-Guldberg 2009), given that temperature is unlikely to differ between the top and sides of a coral colony (mostly because of the high thermal capacity of water), but the coral still bleaches on the upper and sides and not at base, therefore, other explanations are needed.
Observed at Beqa (Kavukavu reef)
Seasonal in ambient temperatures
Coral species: Acropora longicynthus:
have low densities of FP’s (fluoresce protected) and are highly susceptible to bleaching and high cover for choice (Lovell 2004).
Aquarium product

5. Partial Bleaching Partial bleached species with less algae
Non-bleached species with algae

6. Justification And Relevance Of Topic
Solar radiation on corals have rarely been addressed, significantly affects the degree of stress and bleaching in corals and need to have further investigation.
Increase frequency and intensity all over the world until annually by 2030 – 2070 (Hoegh-Guldberg, 2001).
Absence of previous investigations
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): 8-10 years left for CO2 concentration above seawater by 450ppm threaten the existence of coral reefs.
Weakens corals causing diseases- degrading reefs leading to food security.
Beqa is one of the 24 global coral reef watch bleaching alert center from NOAA and one of the 12 in the pacific and the only one in Fiji.

7. Research Objectives
Investigate the partial bleaching of Acropora longicyathus caused by high solar irradiance in ambient temperatures in the Beqa lagoons.
To do reef surveys and sampling of the A.lonicyathus hard coral species at the Southern reef (Kavukavu) of the Beqa Lagoons.
To test the 3 bleaching indicators to quantify bleaching namely; changes in key physiological parameters such as the photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) which has been found to be central to responses of phototrophic organisms to elevated light stress, density of symbiotic dinoflagellates and concentrations of their photosynthetic pigments.
The potential for recovery of photosynthetic efficiency following light stress will be examined, over short term periods.

8. Aerial Map (Research Site)

9. Methodology Pre test and sampling
Pre test will be done as data comparison with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) satellites by getting a complete set of 10 year period data from for Beqa lagoon, with the DHW dataset and sea surface temperatures (SST) for the past 10 years from Jan 1 to 3 May 2010 was taken and also charts of DHW and SST time series from Jan 2000 to current period will be compared.
Tips/nubbins (approximately 90 samples) will be collected randomly from the southern part of the reef, thus 6 replicates from each of the 6 stations will be sampled over 6 months (August 2010-Jan 2011).
Data and sampling will be collection by snorkeling and SCUBA diving.

10. Data Processing
Independent variable is light intensity levels of 150%, 200% and 250% on the coral samples.
Dependent variable is the extent of bleaching (tested for by its 3 indicators)
Therefore, the indicators for the dependent variable that will be measured
are:
Chlorophyll fluorescence - measured using a Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) Fluorometer (DIVING-PAM, Walz, Effeltrich, Germany).
Variable fluorescence (Fv) will be calculated as Fm – Fo, and maximum potential quantum yield as Fv/Fm.
Determination of chlorophyll content - measured by spectrophotometer.
Density of symbiotic dinoflegellates by microscopy - measured by Haemocytometer: an instrument used in counting cells, commonly applied to a combination of counting chambers with cover glasses. The number of cells in the chamber is used to calculate the concentration or density of the cells in the mixture from which the sample was taken.
Concentration of cells in original mixture =

11. Experimental Design: True Experiment

12. Data Collection Tools & Techniques
Spectrophotometer
Underwater (Diving PAM) flourometer
Haemocytometer

13. Data Analysis SPSS software in the FSTE lab.
One way ANOVA with fixed effects will be conducted between treatments for photosynthetic pigment analyses, counts of symbiotic dinoflagellates, and measurements of photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) and accordingly, graphs and tables will be made.
This techniques have been used successfully before and the results were fully implemented by Saxby, 2001.

14. Results Utilization of results Outcomes expected
as a newspaper article: awareness/educate among the people.
First research of its kind in the Beqa lagoon: Coral reefs journal
Results: reproduced by anyone with enough scientific knowledge to carry out this experiment.
researchers gain a better understanding of the nature and relevancy of solar irradiance.
Outcomes expected
high light stress has negative impact on the physiology of the species Acropora longicyathus.
indicated by: decreased photosynthetic efficiency,
loss of symbiotic dinoflagellates, and changes in concentrations of photosynthetic pigments associated with chlorophyll degradation.

15. Key References
Baker, A. C., Glynn, P. W., & Riegl, B. (2008). Climate change and coral reef bleaching: an ecological assessment oflong term impacts, recovery trends and future outlook. Estuarine Coastal and Self Science , 1-37.
Brown, B. E. (1997). Coral Bleaching: Causes and Consequences. Coral Reefs , S129-S138.
Brown,B.E , Dunne,P,R(2008). Solar radiation modulates bleaching and damage protection in a shallow water coral. Marine Ecology Progress Series. Vol. 362: 99–107
Guldberg, H. O. (1999). Climate change, coral bleaching and the future of the worlds coral reefs. Greenpeace. Amsterdam.
Guldberg, H. O. (1999). Climate change, coral bleaching and the future of the worlds coral reefs. Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research (50),
Guldberg, H. O., Mumby, P. J., Huoten, A. J., Steneck, R. S., Greenfield, P., Gomez, E., et al. (2007). Coral reefs under rapid climate change and ocean acidification. Science , 318 (5857),
Lesser, M. P. (2000). Depth-dependent photoacclimatization to solar ultraviolet radiation in the carribean coral Montastraea faveolata. Marine Ecology Progress Series (192),
Lesser, M. P. (1996). Elevated tmperatures and ultraviolet radiation causes oxidative stress and inhibit photosynthesis in symbiotic dinoflagellates. Limnology Oceanography (41),
Lesser, M. P., & Farrel, J. H. (2004). Exposure to solar radiation increases damage to both host tissues and algal symbionts of coral during thermal stress. Coral Reefs (23),
Saxby, T. (2001). Photosynthetic responses of the coral Motipora digitata to cold temperature stress. The University of Queensland, Australia.

16. Thank You
Any Questions?????