Effects of Two Petroleum Products on Pocillopora damicornis Planulae

Abstract

Pocillopora damicornis planulae were exposed to different concentrations of benzene and gasoline:oil mixtures to determine the lethal concentrations and biological responses of the coral larvae. Bioassay tests with either open or closed static solutions of the test compounds were monitored. Planulae settlement was considered as the visible reaction to the hydrocarbon compound introduced. This study found that corallite formation was significantly influenced by the different concentrations of the test compound, but no clear correlation between concentration of the test compound and rate of corallite formation was ascertained. Mortality was minimal in most of the test concentrations utilized in the experiments.