Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station

02 Oct, 01 PM - 29 Oct, 01 PM

We will sample colonies of the major reef builder Acropora hyacinthus around the island are sites associated with the MCR-LTER. We will work off of established MCR-LTER mooring at fore reef sites on each side of the island. Using SCUBA, coral colonies will be photographed and sampled for genomic analysis. Tagged colonies will be monitored throughout the recovery period using photographs. One week prior to the predicted spawning, tagged colonies in the field will be sampled for histology to assess fecundity. Mature eggs are able to be visualized within the coral using histology and microscopy. Three nubbins per coral colony will be collected for this analysis. A subsample of surviving corals will be fragmented in the field and taken on shore to be housed in large flow-through mesocosms at the UC Berkeley Gump Research Station. Just prior to spawning, colonies will be isolated in bins of filtered sea water and allowed to naturally release gametes. Gametes will be collected, washed and combined across colonies for fertilization. Fertilized embryos will be cultured in replicate bins and water changes will be performed daily for the first three days. Once the embryos develop into swimming larvae (3 days), larvae will be sampled for biochemical and molecular analyses. These samples will be taken back to Auburn University and processed there. The remaining swimming larvae will be exposed to pre-conditioned terracotta tiles which should initiate settlement. Newly settled juveniles will be photographed and mapped on each tile and survival and growth of each individual juvenile will be monitored for 2-3 weeks. At the end of this period, selected individuals will be sampled for genomic analysis. The fragments of adult colonies will be returned to the site of collection and attached to the substrate using marine epoxy.

Visit #64050 @Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station

Approved

Under Project # 43519 | Research

Studies of recovery from bleaching in Acropora hyancinthus

graduate_student - University of California, Santa Barbara

Reservation Members(s)

Logan Kozal Oct 2 - 13, 2019 (12 days)
Marie Strader Oct 2 - 29, 2019 (28 days)
Terence Leach Oct 11 - 29, 2019 (19 days)
Jannine Chamorro Oct 11 - 29, 2019 (19 days)
Kelly Speare Oct 2 - 29, 2019 (28 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Private Bungalow - UC/Consortium 0 Oct 1 - 29, 2019
Private Bungalow - UC/Consortium 1 Oct 1 - 29, 2019