Reef-building corals (Order: Scleractinia) are undergoing rapid taxonomic revision after molecular systematics disputed the relationships at all taxonomic levels within traditional classification. New morphological characters are being used to produce evolutionary relationships supported by molecular phylogenetics. While these characters are providing more congruent taxonomic relationships, their variation has not been fully explored. Additionally, phenotypic plasticity (changes in morphology resulting from environmental factors influencing the expressed phenotype despite a shared genotype) is prevalent amongst Scleractinia. In order to better understand the nature of these characters and explore their variation, I created a series of aquaria-based experiments designed to test the stability of these new morphological characters in response to differing environmental conditions. Light intensity and temperature were chosen as the environmental factors varied in these experiments on the basis of being a known trigger for environmentally-driven plasticity and their importance in calcification rate. In addition to aquaria-based phenotypic plasticity experiments I also examined a group (Family: Euphylliidae) within Scleractinia that had been divided by molecular phylogeny into two disparate groups. My research focused on morphological features viewed at magnifications observable by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) called micromorphology. Although variation in the skeletal micromorphology is observable, the new morphological characters that are used in taxonomy display only small amounts of variation caused by changing environmental conditions and were found to be stable for use in taxonomic studies. Additionally, I found a few micromorphological features distinguishing the two groups previously assigned to Euphylliidae including the shape of the septal margins and the fine-scale skeletal texture.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2006. / Principal faculty advisor: Mark E. Warner, College of Marine and Earth Studies. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2003.

This study investigates effects of eutrophication on settlement, abundance, mortality and community structure of soleractinian corals on fringing reefs on the west coast of Barbados, W.I. Juvenile abundance was lower, but juvenile size larger, on eutrophic than less eutrophic reefs. The lower abundance results at least in part from a higher juvenile mortality on eutrophic reefs. Algae were more abundant and grazers (Diadema antillarum and herbivorous fish) less abundant on eutrophic reefs. Juvenile community structure on all reefs, and adult community structure on eutrophic reefs, was dominated by type 1 corals (high recruitment, high natural mortality). Type 2 corals (low recruitment, low natural mortality) were common in adult communities on less eutrophic reefs. Settlement of coral recruits on artificial substrates was lower on more eutrophic reefs.

Samples of Porites porites rubble were collected from across three fringing reefs which lie along a eutrophication gradient in Barbados, West Indies. The coral skeleton fragments were examined for clionid sponges. Data collected from the reef crest and fore reef zones and from across the range of distances and depths were pooled for each reef to compare indices of sponge abundance along the eutrophication gradient. Significant differences between the reefs were found for the proportion of rubble invaded (ANCOVA, p = 0.004), number of invasions per sample (ANCOVA, p = 0.002), and number of species per sample (ANCOVA, p = 0.018) but not for total surface area of sponge invasions per sample (ANCOVA, p = 0.064). All the indices demonstrated an increase with increasing eutrophication level. Clionids were found in nearly twice as many of the pieces collected from the most eutrophic site (41%) as from the least eutrophic (24%). Since clionids may be the principal bioeroders of coral reefs, an increase in their abundance due to excessive pollution likely results in greater bioerosion of affected reefs. The mean abundance of Type 3 corals was found to be positively related to the frequency of boring sponge invasion, suggesting that increased bioeroision may be partly responsible for community shifts toward Type 3 corals in polluted waters. One new variety and three new species of boring sponges of the genus Cliona were found. A new variety of C. amplicavata Rutzler is described, Cliona species 2 of MacGeachy is redescribed and Cliona species 4 and Cliona species 5 are described for the first time. Cliona species 5 may become an important bioeroder in Barbados and other Caribbean islands since it flourishes under high eutrophic conditions which are beginning to plague West Indian reefs. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Multivariate ordination techniques were used to characterize the direction and magnitude of coral community changes on west coast reefs in Barbados between 1982 and 1992, and to relate these changes to coastal eutrophication and variation in Diadema antillarum densities (grazing pressure). D. antillarum densities were substantially lower in 1992 than in 1982, reflecting the 1983 mass mortality event. Reductions in urchin density were greater on less eutrophic reefs than eutrophic reefs. Cover by macrophytic algae increased, cover by crustose coralline algae decreased, and the number of coral species decreased between 1982 and 1992. With the notable exception of the most eutrophic reef, coral cover decreased over the 10 year period. Changes in algal cover across reefs between 1982 and 1992 were strongly correlated with decreases in D. antillarum densities, and were therefore typically greater on less eutrophic reefs, indicating that reduced grazing pressure has more strongly influenced algal cover changes than prevailing eutrophication levels. Coral species composition changed at all sites between 1982 and 1992, and except at the most eutrophic site, the direction of change was directly related to reduced D. antillarum densities and associated algal cover changes. Temporal change at the most eutrophic site was best explained by the prevailing high level of eutrophication, and resulted primarily from a substantial increase in the cover of one species, Porites porites. The decrease in coral cover that occurred on most of the study reefs in the face of the increasing cover by macrophytic algae was typically accompanied by an increase in the relative abundance of Type 1 (high recruitment, high natural juvenile mortality) to Type 2 (low recruitment, low natural juvenile mortality) corals.

Missing leaves: 170. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 190-203). / Electronic reproduction. / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / xvi, 203 leaves, bound ill. (chiefly col.), col. maps 29 cm

The reef corals Pocillopora damicornis and Montipora verrucosa were cultured under various controlled temperatures and light conditions at Ulupau Head Microcosm facility. The skeletal carbonate deposited under different experimental regimes was analyzed for 13C and 18O. Coral skeletal 013C values varied with light dose and correlated with changes in zooxanthellar pigment. The o13C value of skeletal aragonite seems to be controlled by oxidation of photosynthetically produced organic matter. Functionally significant relationships between coral skeletal o18O values and temperature have been determined. The temperature coefficients of the o18O values (-4.20) are the same as the first order coefficient in the equilibrium paleotemperature equation, but the o18O values have species-specific offsets from equilibrium. These offsets may be attributed to the activity of the coral's zooxanthellae. Based upon the results of this study a model of coral skeletal isotopic incorporation is presented. / Typescript. Thesis (M. S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1979. Bibliography: leaves 94-102.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-96). / vi, 149 leaves, bound ill., map 29 cm

The purpose of this thesis was to provide a revision and characterization of the species of nongeniculate coralline algae previously ascribed to the now defunct genus Porolithon / to provide a modern account of selected taxa from the genus Hydrolithon and descriptions of taxa found to conform the generic delimitation of Hydrolithon and to use a phenetic cluster analysis to determine the taxonomic relationships between the various taxa ascribed to the genera Polorithon and Hydrolithon.