Experimental Studies of Factors Affecting Coral Recruitment in La Parguera, Puerto Rico: Update No. 3, Aug

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1 Experimental Studies of Factors Affecting Coral Recruitment in La Parguera, Puerto Rico: Update No. 3, Aug Alina Szmant (UNCW) and Ernesto Weil (RUM)

2 SUMMER 2006 MAJOR OBJECTIVES NO. 1: Experiment to investigate factors affecting substrate community structure that supports greater coral settlement: Multifactorial experiment in which we vary light and grazing under which settlement plates are exposed during aging period NO 2: Introduce new technologies to improve mariculture of coral larvae; goal to raise 10^6 larvae of each of several species, especially A. palmata NO 3: Continue research on early larval behavior, development of competency and duration of competency

3 SUMMER 2006 MAJOR OBJECTIVES (continued) NO. 4: Initiate work (funded by World Bank; thesis of Ainhoa L. Zubillaga) to use antibody assays to detect post-spawn larval distribution patterns NO. 5: Experiment to investigate the effects of elevated seawater temperature [28 to 34 oc] on coral larval development of competency, and heat stress protein production (Dr. Seab Griffin) NO 6: Begin new work on early survivorship and polyp feeding NO 7: Continue work on the effects of Diadema grazing on survivorship of newly settled coral polyps.

4 OBJECTIVE 1 based on previous findings: Undersides of experimental plates attract more larval settlement than do the tops Number of settlers per 100 cm Top Mean Bottom mean P e lo ta s S H * * * * * a b P e lo ta s D P T u rru m o te S H * comparison of top vs bottom a comparisons across depths Station T u rru m o te D P Hypothesis: Light and amount of grazing are the two factors that differ most between conditions affecting "tops" vs "bottoms B u o y

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6 Underwater around the ICON station

7 OBJECTIVE 2: Introduce new technologies to improve mariculture of coral larvae; goal to raise 10^6 larvae of each of several species, especially A. palmata; Large number of larvae needed for restoration, genomics, behavioral and ecological studies New flow through system to reduce handling stress, and improve water quality during high-density rearing: Jake Adams, Nathan Kwiatek, Chris Jury

8 OBJECTIVE 3: Continue research on early larval behavior, development of competency and duration of competency Time series of bouyancy, vertical swimming abilities, how long it takes each spp to become competent, and how long they can remain competent: Information important to estimation of larval dispersal abilities: Ainhoa L. Zubillaga (A. palmata) and Chris Jury (D. strigosa and M. cavernosa)

9 OBJECTIVE 4: Initiate work (funded by World Bank; thesis of Ainhoa L. Zubillaga) to use antibody assays to detect post-spawn larval distribution patterns Use of specific polyclonal antibodies for the detection of Acropora palmata larvae in water samples Project: Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management M.Sc. Ainhoa L. Zubillaga-. Dr. Brian Dixon-. Dr. Carolina Bastidas

10 Example of sampling program Predominant surface current m 300 m 8 10 m 5 REEF 10 m Band 4 Band 3 Band 2 Band 1 Larvae of A. palmata are not fully competent until minimum of days after spawning Sampling begun 2 days before spawing, continued for ca. 8 days

11 Assay Method Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) E E E E E E Coat well with water samples (with potential larvae) Add Antibody 1 Specific for Acropora palmata larvae (antigen) Add Antibody 1 + A. palmata Larvae Add Antibody 2 (detection) Enzyme labeled Measure Color Change Add substrate Positive response Negative response Presence of A. Palmata Larvae Absence A. Palmata Larvae 4

12 Assay Method Test of accuracy and specificity Abs 405 nm 0,350 0,300 0,250 0,200 0,150 0,100 0,050 0,000 1 Egg 2 Eggs 3 Eggs 4 Eggs 5 Eggs Adult 1 Egg 2 Eggs 3 Eggs 4 Eggs 5 Eggs Adult Threshold Acropora palmata Montastraea faveolata Conditions Acropora palmata Larvae (antigen) Negative (no larvae) Montastraea faveolata larvae (other antigen) Response + Response - 2

13 We'd appreciate help from local oceanographers with background information on small scale hydrographics patterns

14 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Work funded by NOAA CCRI to RUM, by World Bank Targeted Research Program, and by NSF Bio-GenEn grant Summer 2006 Resrach Team: Emmanuel Irizzarry, Ainhoa Zubillaga, Sean Griffin, Chris Jury, Jake Adams, Nathan Kwiatek