Acute turbidity exposures with Port of Miami sediments impact Orbicella faveolata tissue regeneration

Lisa A May; Carl V Miller; Zachary J Moffitt; Len Balthis; Jocelyn Karazsia; Pace Wilber; Cheryl M Woodley

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115217

Acute turbidity exposures with Port of Miami sediments impact Orbicella faveolata tissue regeneration

Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Aug:193:115217. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115217. Epub 2023 Jul 10.

Authors

Lisa A May¹, Carl V Miller², Zachary J Moffitt², Len Balthis³, Jocelyn Karazsia⁴, Pace Wilber⁵, Cheryl M Woodley⁶

Affiliations

¹ Consolidated Safety Services, Inc. contractor for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America. Electronic address: lisa.may@noaa.gov.
² Consolidated Safety Services, Inc. contractor for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America.
³ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 219 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America.
⁴ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Habitat Conservation Division, 400 North Congress Ave, Suite 270, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, United States of America.
⁵ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Habitat Conservation Division, 331 Ft Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America.
⁶ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America. Electronic address: cheryl.woodley@noaa.gov.

PMID: 37437476
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115217

Abstract

We evaluated acute turbidity effects on a threatened coral species (Orbicella faveolata) under three short-term challenge scenarios using a Port of Miami sediment homogenate to simulate turbid conditions during dredging. For these experiments we designed a simple coral challenge test system that kept turbidity stable, without adverse effects to the coral. A 96-h coral challenge experiment demonstrated that low turbidity levels (≥4 NTU) have negative effects on O. faveolata tissue regeneration. A 48-h turbidity exposure (maximum 30 NTU) had no effect on O. faveolata tissue regeneration, showing that short term turbidity exposures may not be detrimental to coral health. In a 13-day test, treated coral fragments (maximum 30 NTU) exhibited significant delays in tissue regeneration, but recovery was observed after approximately one week. The results presented here can be used to inform management decisions for proposed dredging activities proximal to coral reef habitats.

Keywords: Coral health; Dredging; Orbicella faveolata; Sea urchin embryo development toxicity test; Tissue regeneration; Turbidity.

MeSH terms

Animals
Anthozoa*
Coral Reefs
Ecosystem
Endangered Species