2008 Woodie Awards
Biology professor presents marine research
Kerri Anne Renzulli
Issue date: 7/24/08 Section: News
"What was really surprising to me was how long it took corals to generate over lesions," Fauth said. "What should have taken three to four months was taking much longer, and some of the samples we had didn't heal at all. That was a surprise."
The samples were collected at four sites: a treated wastewater outfall of the city of Hollywood, the inlet mouth of Port Everglades, another outfall beside the Hillsborough Inlet mouth and a control site not located near inlets or outfalls.
Cellular diagnostics, equivalent to blood tests for humans, were used with traditional coral monitoring techniques to test coral health and identify causes of the coral's low vitality rate. Coral in the control group was able to heal the small areas of removed tissue but those from the outfalls and inlets were only able to repair lost tissue at slow rates if at all. All samples were stressed in comparison to coral colonies from a more pristine site in the Bahamas.
The loss of coral harms not only reef ecosystems but the state's economy as it derives millions from eco-tourism centered on the coral reefs and the marine life they provide for. The state recognized SB 1302, which plans to eliminate the use of ocean outfalls for wastewater disposal in Southeast Florida by 2025, helping the ailing coral.
"Everyone should reduce their use of chemicals, especially those that go down sinks, drains and toilets or are used on lawns and gardens," Fauth said. "Corals need clean, clear water to grow and reproduce so it is essential to reduce pollution entering the ocean. Many people don't realize that there is a national marine sanctuary with beautiful reefs in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico: Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. So choices made by a consumer at the source of the Mississippi River way up in Bemidji, Minn., could affect reefs in the Gulf. The links are even shorter for residents of coastal counties, especially south of Martin County, Fla., where coral reefs begin very close to shore."
Fauth and his colleagues' complete report is available at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral/reports/LBSP/Project5-Biomarker_Final_Report_v4.pdf.
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The samples were collected at four sites: a treated wastewater outfall of the city of Hollywood, the inlet mouth of Port Everglades, another outfall beside the Hillsborough Inlet mouth and a control site not located near inlets or outfalls.
Cellular diagnostics, equivalent to blood tests for humans, were used with traditional coral monitoring techniques to test coral health and identify causes of the coral's low vitality rate. Coral in the control group was able to heal the small areas of removed tissue but those from the outfalls and inlets were only able to repair lost tissue at slow rates if at all. All samples were stressed in comparison to coral colonies from a more pristine site in the Bahamas.
The loss of coral harms not only reef ecosystems but the state's economy as it derives millions from eco-tourism centered on the coral reefs and the marine life they provide for. The state recognized SB 1302, which plans to eliminate the use of ocean outfalls for wastewater disposal in Southeast Florida by 2025, helping the ailing coral.
"Everyone should reduce their use of chemicals, especially those that go down sinks, drains and toilets or are used on lawns and gardens," Fauth said. "Corals need clean, clear water to grow and reproduce so it is essential to reduce pollution entering the ocean. Many people don't realize that there is a national marine sanctuary with beautiful reefs in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico: Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. So choices made by a consumer at the source of the Mississippi River way up in Bemidji, Minn., could affect reefs in the Gulf. The links are even shorter for residents of coastal counties, especially south of Martin County, Fla., where coral reefs begin very close to shore."
Fauth and his colleagues' complete report is available at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral/reports/LBSP/Project5-Biomarker_Final_Report_v4.pdf.
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