1. Inorganic Fertilizer and Coral Bleaching
BIL 151
Dr. Dan DiResta
Fall 2005
Danny Benito, Neera Khurana, Vijal Patel & Nancy Williams

2. Question: Does exposure to Nitrate cause coral bleaching?
Purpose
To explore the effects of Nitrate on Aiptasia pallida and Xenia sp.
Question: Does exposure to Nitrate cause coral bleaching?
We will add Nitrate to the coral tank to test coral bleaching. It will be measured by zooxanthealle density.

3. Hypothesis
H̥: Upon the addition of Nitrate, the zooxanthealle density will remain the same.
H1: Upon the addition of Nitrate, the zooxanthealle density will decrease.

4. Procedure Add 0.5 mg of Nitrate to the test aquarium
Measure zooxantheallae density once per week for six weeks.

5. Controls
Everything remains constant including light, salinity, and temperature in the control and experimental tank except for the addition of Nitrate.

6. Works Cited
Cokos, B., Jones, S., McClanahan, T.R., Pietri, D., Steneck, R.S. Interaction Between Inorganic Nutrients and Organic Matter in Controlling Coral Reef Communities in Glovers Reef, Belize. Mar Poll Bull 2005 May; 50 (5):