1. The Effects of Salinity on Coral Polyps
Group 1: Valeria Dias, Barbara Kiersz, Caitlin Liston, Isaac Markus, Amy Muehlmatt, Yamily Musa.

2. Questions Discussed
How does water salinity affect the symbiosis between the polyps and zooxanthellae?
What is the range of water salinity at which polyps can survive and not bleach?
After initial bleaching has occurred from shock, do the polyps continue to bleach over time?

3. Null Hypotheses
An increase in salinity will have no effect on density of zooxanthelle in the polyps.
After the polyps have been partially shocked at 45 ppt, the bleaching will come to a halt and zooxanthelle density will remain constant.

4. Alternate Hypotheses
An increase in salinity will cause zooxanthelle to die or separate from coral polyps, lowering the density in the polyps.
After they have been shocked, polyps will continue to slowly lose zooxanthelle when kept at a constant salinity of 45ppt.

5. Experimental Design
The polyps were shocked by increasing the salinity of the tank to 45ppt.
The polyps will be kept at a steady salinity- 45 ppt for remaining time, while we monitor for bleaching.
We will measure the chlorophyll, protein, and zooxanthellae for the last time this week.

6. *Data* Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 8.9 x 108 1.7 x 108 8.0 x 107 0.24 3.28
Zooxanthellae
Density (per gram of polyp)
8.9 x 108
1.7 x 108
8.0 x 107
Chlorophyll (ng/ 106 cells)
0.24
3.28
8.26
Protein
(mg/g solution)
45.0
25.6
23.8
Week 1: Salinity was increased from 35 ppt to 37 ppt.
Week 2: Found salinity at 40 ppt, raised it to 43 ppt.
Week 3: Found salinity at 45ppt, kept it constant at 45 ppt.
Week 4: Analyze effects of high salinity on coral polyps. (today)

7. Background Info Polar ice sheets and global warming:
~“Over the last 15 years, the Northern Hemisphere tropical temperatures have gone up by one half degree (Fahrenheit)," says Alan Strong of NESDIS (qtd. in “NOAA…”)
Possible melting from Greenland, Antarctica, ice sheets, and ice caps (van deer Veen).
*chart taken from (van der Veen).

8. Sources
“NOAA delivers early warning of coral bleaching.” Cable News Network, Nov < /10/05/coral.bleaching.enn/>
van der Veen, C. J. “Polar ice sheets and global sea level: how well can we predict the future?” Global and Planetary Change. Vol. 32, April

11. The End!!