Date

2000

Document Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Department

Science & Environmental Policy

Abstract

(Abstract--pt.3) This project examined several questions in relation to the interactions of three different coral species Millepora alcicornis, Pseudopteregorgia americana, Gorgonia ventalina and the incidence of disease that afflicts them in four different reef communities in Bermuda. This study took place over a three-month period of time and answered the following two questions: 1. What is the frequency that M. alcicornis encrusts P. americana and G. ventalina. 2. What are the patterns of incidence of a newly found Gorgonian disease that affects P. americana. I also identified as well as tagged an already known disease of G. ventalina. This project revealed that M. alcicornis densities were highest on the Patch and Lagoon reefs, but intermediate on the Terrace reef and lowest on the Rim reef sites. Interactions betweeen M. alcicornis and two hard corals, P. americana and G. ventalina were recorded and analyzed as well as its general interactions encrusting soft corals. When M. alcicornis encrusted P. americana it occurred most abundantly in the Patch reefs and least frequently in the Lagoon reefs. The Rim and Terrace Reefs has almost an equal amount of interactions. Observations of M. alcicornis encrusting all other soft corals besides P. americana were recorded and found most frequently in the Terrace reefs. They were found least frequently in the Patch reef.

Comments

Capstone Project (B.S.) Earth Systems Science & Policy Institute

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