Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station

05 Apr, 01 PM - 29 Jul, 06 PM

A recent outbreak of Porites Trematodiasis in Moorea, French Polynesia, motivated the question of how increased algal abundance potentially altered this host-parasite interaction. I propose to assess the relationship between macroalgal species identity and abundance and key metrics of the coral disease Porites Trematodiasis. My research questions are 1. Is there a positive relationship between macroalgal abundance, species composition, and parasite prevalence, load (parasite population density on a host), and dispersion (spatial patterns of parasite distribution)? 2. How do different algal species hinder or increase this relationship? I propose two approaches to meet these objectives. First, I will conduct surveys across the north shore of Moorea to establish the relationship between parasite prevalence and macroalgal abundance and species identity. Second, I will conduct transplantation experiments in the field to determine if the relationship is causative. My fieldwork will be at the Gump South Pacific Research Station in Moorea, French Polynesia. I will begin by conducting formal field surveys and re-observe 10 to 20 sites from my preliminary data on the spatial patterns of Porites Trematodiasis and pick high and medium prevalence sites, remarking each site with a GPS. From these sites, I will randomly select 100 corals to get full range of the spatial pattern of the relationship between algal abundance and the disease. To examine the 100 corals, I will randomly select 10 infected coral colonies at 10 sites (5 high prevalence sites and 5 medium prevalence sites) using a 20m x 2m transect surveys. For each colony, I will record the presence or absence of macroalgae and pink spots. For every presence of a macroalga, I will document and identify the species. Also, I plan to record the condition of the coral by quantifying mortality, bite scars, and snails. For a subset of colonies in each site that have pink spots and macroalgae, I will assess the load of the pink polyps for the distribution and abundance of macroalgae. I will target edges of coral colonies with and without macroalgal/coral interfaces and determine if the load varies between these interface types. The next approach will be to transplant macroalgae to infected to uninfected colonies and quantify the accumulation of pink polyps over time. I want to see if the macroalgae surrounded by infected coral will cause the same change in presence of an uninfected coral. I will pick 4 sites (2 high prevalence sites and 2 medium prevalence sites) along a 20m x 2m transect randomly. For the transplants, I will pick the top three commonly observed abundant macroalgal species that I detected near infected colonies in my field surveys. The field transplants will consist of these species on 5 infected and non-infected coral colonies. I will attach each transplant using an assays technique. The plan is to leave the transplants in the water for two weeks and document the changes in the coral’s physical appearance every other day. The results from this study could lead to further understanding of how a coral parasites’ distributions, and susceptibility is controlled by a certain abundance of macroalgae species.

Visit #69548 @Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station

Approved

Under Project # 44793 | Research

Does the abundance or species identity of macroalgae associated with coral relate to parasite prevalence on coral?

graduate_student - University of California, Los Angeles

Reservation Members(s)

Ashlyn Ford Apr 5 - May 14, 2021 (40 days)
Ashlyn Ford Apr 5 - May 14, 2021 (40 days)
Shalanda Grier Apr 5 - May 14, 2021 (40 days)
Ashlyn Ford Jun 26 - Jul 29, 2021 (34 days)

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Bed in shared room 1 Apr 5 - May 14, 2021
General Use (Dirt) Lab 1 Apr 5 - May 14, 2021
Field Prep Area 1 Apr 5 - May 14, 2021
OA Research Lab 1 Apr 5 - May 14, 2021
Ford Ranger 4x4 (White) 1 Apr 5 - May 14, 2021
Bed in shared room 1 Jun 26 - Jul 30, 2021
LTER Lab 1 Jun 26 - Jul 30, 2021
General Use (Dirt) Lab 1 Jun 26 - Jul 30, 2021
Morphology Lab 1 Jun 26 - Jul 30, 2021
Researcher Lab 1 Jun 26 - Jul 30, 2021
Compressor Room 1 Jun 26 - Jul 30, 2021
Field Prep Area 1 Jun 26 - Jul 30, 2021
OA Research Lab 1 Jun 26 - Jul 30, 2021
Ford Ranger 4x4 (White) 1 Jun 26 - Jul 30, 2021
MarinAlu Blue Boat 26ft 1 Jun 26 - Jul 30, 2021
Stabicraft 659 21ft Boat 1 Jun 26 - Jul 30, 2021
Stabicraft 509 Biocode Boat 17ft 1 Jun 26 - Jul 30, 2021