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

以前的工作已经有数据表明，在化石记录中，一种现代珊瑚(Porites Divaricata)存在着与漂白有关的形态和化学指标，这些指标有可能成为珊瑚漂白的替代品。该项目将调查在化石(全新世、Plio更新世)珊瑚中是否可以看到这些相同的指标。保存完好的全新世、更新世和上新世港口种。将用扫描电子显微镜检查，并用ICPAES分析痕量金属含量。结果数据应表明初步结果中确定的潜在替代物是否可以在化石标本中确定。这个项目是之前的工作和一个更大的项目之间必要的中间步骤，该项目调查珊瑚漂白的地质历史。目前还没有在化石Skeractinia中识别应力的替代方法。漂白相关压力的形态和痕量金属信号已经在现代硬骨骨骼中被识别出来，就像它们在有孔虫中一样。由于这些信号有可能在化石记录中进行识别，新近纪化石记录可能成为关于现代珊瑚礁群落遭受的永久性损害、对珊瑚礁群落生物多样性的影响以及今天珊瑚礁系统恢复的预测的信息来源。探索性研究的小额赠款将由博士后桑德·伯尔执行，她在博士论文中生成了初步数据。这个项目将使她能够提高她在ICPAES和SEM方面的培训和技能。如果该项目成功，将提出一个更大的、全额资助的项目，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.