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Opportunities for Environmental Applications of Marine Biotechnology Proceedings of the October 5-6, 1999, Workshop (2000) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

Opportunities for Biotechnology for Coral and Reef Restoration
Pages 74-84

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From page 74...
... Complex interactions, as yet hardly understood, between effects resulting from the trend in global warming and those from anthropogenic impacts on near-shore reefs are thought to have led to large-scale changes in community structure, bioerosion, tissue mortality, reduced abundance of corals, and increased incidence of disease (Brown and others 1996; Chadwick-Furman 1996; Tokiel and Coles 1990; Smith and Buddemeier 1992~. One of the critical consequences of these disturbances has been to reduce effectively the reproductive potential or capacity of many coral communities.
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From page 75...
... What we do have is a whole range of novel biotechnology approaches recently developed for other areas. Many of these approaches appear to be suitable, after appropriate modification, for direct application to coral reef restoration.
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From page 76...
... Studies of gene flow incorporating the genetic composition of local and distant populations of adults indicate that the norm is interbreeding among widely distant populations (Ayre 1990; Ayre and others 1997; Bohonak 1999~. Additionally, there is ample evidence for the ability of coral larvae to successfully delay metamorphosis (Morse and others 1996; Morse and others 1988; Richmond 1987~.
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From page 77...
... We and our colleagues in lapan recently induced Pacific acroporid corals to spawn using both prostaglandins and hydrogen peroxide. The gametes were viable for fertilization; larvae developed normally and metamorphosed in response to the required chemical cue.
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From page 78...
... Restoration Technology To restore corals to damaged reefs, it will be necessary to produce coral larvae in an aquaculture setting, raise them to metamorphic competence, induce larvae to metamorphosis on suitable substrates, and outplant the young recruits onto the reef. To accomplish this objective, we must develop reliable technologies to predict and control gametogenesis, spawning and larval production, induction of larval settlement and metamorphosis, and successful out-planting.
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From page 79...
... Examples include monitoring the availability of larvae for recruitment from the plankton; assessing variation in recruitment under different environmental conditions, one indicator of reef health; and offsetting the collection of corals from reefs for the aquarium, jewelry, and ornamental trades and providing an alternative source of coral for medical purposes such as bone replacement. The main criteria that will be used to access the outcome of restoration technology will be establishment of a reproductive population of new adult corals.
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From page 80...
... Molecular Physiology The development of modern technologies for analysis and assessment of the core physiological processes of photosynthesis and symbiosis, reproduction, development, and growth in corals will be required for accurate predictions of stresses that affect corals (Glynn 1993~. This type of information is central to successful reef restoration.
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From page 81...
... Szmant AM. 1995 Heat shock protein induction in Montastrea faveolata and Aiptasia pallida exposed to elevated temperatures.
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From page 82...
... 1995 Induction of 70-kD heat shock protein in scleractinian corals by elevated temperature: Significance for coral bleaching. Mol Mar Biol Biotech 4:3642.
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From page 83...
... Morse ANC. 1998 An ancient chemosensory mechanism controls metamorphosis of larvae in divergent coral families.
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From page 84...
... Veron JEN, Odorico DM, Chen CA, Miller DJ. 1996 Reassessing evolutionary relationships of scleractinian corals.
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Key Terms

  • coral reef
  • morse anc
  • reef restoration
  • coral bleaching
  • mar biol

  • barrier reef
  • chemical cue
  • chemosensory mechanism
  • scleractinian corals
  • aquarium trade

  • elevated temperatures
  • hydrogen peroxide
  • mar ecol
  • coral larvae
  • aquaculture setting

  • reproductive capacity
  • ecol prog
  • prog ser
  • gene flow
  • adult corals

  • larval production
  • mar sci
  • coral families
  • distant populations
  • brood stock

  • reef symposium
  • reef ecosystems
  • genetic screening
  • damaged reefs
  • coral cultivation


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