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Southeast Florida Coral Reef Assessment Coral reefs in South Florida are declining. The reasons for this decline are
unknown, but if unchecked, may lead to a total ecological failure of these
coral reefs. This has large
social and economic ramifications, as well as potential human health effe=
cts.
In collaboration with the Broward County Department of Environmental
Protection, the College of Charleston, National Coral Reef Institute, and=
the
University of Central Florida, a study was conducted to describe the natu=
re
of the coral degradation and potentially identify possible sources of str=
ess.
A grant was awarded to the University of Central Florida by the State of
Florida and Haereticus was a sub-grantee. Haereticus’ responsibility=
was
to assist in the sampling design, sampling protocol, and to conduct cellu=
lar
diagnostic analysis of field-sampled corals and laboratory corals. Haereticus, in collaboration wit=
h the
University of Hawaii-Manoa, also sponsored pro bono contaminant chemistry
analysis of field samples for this study. |
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Levels of a mitochondrial heat-shock protein in corals
from different sites. In this case, protein levels above "4"
indicate a stressed condition, specifically a metabolic stressed conditio=
n. |
Cluster analysis of all cellular diagnostic markers fr=
om
all the sampled sites. Sites
clustered into four distinct groups. Two sites near the Hollywood sewer
outfall site clustered with two sites in the Florida Keys. The inshore co=
ral
sites cluster together (blue) and are distinct from the offshore coral si=
tes
(green). The coral samples =
from a
remote location in the Bahamas is distinct from all South Florida coral
populations |
![3D"http://haereticus-lab.org/SE%20Florida%20Map%20copy.jpg"](3D"SoutheastFloridaCoralReefAssessment1_files/image007.jpg")
![3D"http://haereticus-lab.org/SE%20Florida%20GRp75%20data%20copy.jpg"](3D"SoutheastFloridaCoralReefAssessment1_files/image008.jpg")
![3D"http://haereticus-lab.org/SE%20Florida%20Cluster%20Analysis%20copy=](3D"SoutheastFloridaCoralReefAssessment1_files/image009.jpg")