EFFECTS OF CHEMICALLY AND PHYSICALLY DISPERSED OIL ON THE BRAIN CORAL DIPLORIA STRIGOSA (DANA) - A SUMMARY REVIEW.

This paper reviews the results of this three year study. The studies included effects of dispersed oil on survival and behavior, the uptake and depuration of petroleum hydrocarbons, photosynthesis by symbiotic zooxanthellae, and skeletal growth. In behavioral and growth studies, corals were dosed in the laboratory or in the field. Laboratory-dosed colonies were returned to the field to determine long-term effects. Depuration studies showed that the uptake of petroleum hydrocarbons by the tissue of Diploria was rapid, but 75 percent of the hydrocarbon dose was eliminated within 14 days. Photosynthesis studies showed a short-term inhibition of photosynthesis only by chemically dispersed oil.