Sediment source and dose influence the larval performance of the threatened coral Orbicella faveolata.

ABSTRACT: The effects of turbidity and sedimentation stress on early life stages of corals are poorly understood, particularly in Atlantic species. Dredging operations, beach nourishment, and other coastal construction activities can increase sedimentation and turbidity in nearby coral reef habitats and have the potential to negatively affect coral larval development and metamorphosis, reducing sexual reproduction success. In this study, we investigated the performance of larvae of the threatened Caribbean coral species Orbicella faveolata exposed to suspended sediments collected from a reef site in southeast Florida recently impacted by dredging (Port of Miami), and compared it to the performance of larvae exposed to sediments collected from the offshore, natal reef of the parent colonies. In a lab

SUBMITTER: Serrano XM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11207144 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature