SGER: Trace Metal and Morphological Proxies for Bleaching-Related Stress in Scleractinian Corals

先前的研究结果表明，在一种现代珊瑚（Porites divaricata）中存在与白化相关的形态学和化学指标，这些指标有可能作为化石记录中珊瑚白化的替代指标。该项目将调查这些相同的指标是否可以在化石（全新世，上新世）珊瑚中看到。用扫描电镜对保存完好的全新世、更新世和上新世岩石进行了研究，并用ICPAES分析了微量金属的含量。结果数据应表明在初步结果中确定的潜在代用品是否可以在化石标本中确定。这个项目是之前工作之间的一个必要的中间步骤，是一个更大的项目，研究珊瑚白化的地质历史。目前还没有合适的方法来鉴定菌核菌化石中的应力。与有孔虫一样，在现代硬核动物骨骼中也发现了与白化有关的形态学信号和微量金属信号。由于这些信号有可能在化石记录中被识别，因此新近纪化石记录可以成为关于对现代珊瑚礁群落的永久性破坏、对珊瑚礁群落生物多样性的影响以及对当今珊瑚礁系统恢复的预测的信息来源。探索性研究的小额资助将由博士后Sande Burr进行，她生成了初步数据，作为她博士论文的一部分。这个项目将使她能够提高与ICPAES和SEM相关的培训和技能。如果这个项目取得成功，将提出一个更大的、得到充分资助的项目，该项目将涉及与多米尼加共和国的科学家合作。

Previous work has resulted in data indicating that there are morphological and chemical indicators of bleaching related stress in one species of modem coral (Porites divaricata) that have potential as proxies for coral bleaching in the fossil record. This project will investigate whether these same indicators can be seen in fossil (Holocene, Plio Pleistocene) corals. Well preserved Holocene, Pleistocene, and Pliocene Porties spp. will be examined with SEM, and analyzed for trace metal content with ICPAES. Resulting data should indicate if potential proxies identified in preliminary results can be identified in fossil specimens. This project is a necessary intermediate step between previous work, and a larger project investigating the geologic history of coral bleaching.There is no existing proxy for identification of stress in fossil Scleractinia. Morphological and trace metal signals for bleaching related stress have been identified in the modem scleractinian skeleton as they have been in foraminifera. Because these signals have potential for identification in the fossil record, the Neogene fossil record could become a source of information about the permanence of damage done to modern coral reef communities, the effect on the biodiversity of the reef community, and the prognosis for recovery of today's reef systems.The Small Grant for Exploratory Research will be carried out by post-doc, Sande Burr, who generated the preliminary data as part of her PhD dissertation. This project will allow her to advance her training and skills relating to ICPAES and SEM. If this project is successful, a larger, fully funded project which would involve collaboration with scientists in the Dominican Republic, will be proposed.