Meeting Abstract

P3.43  Friday, Jan. 6  Oxidative stress in two coral species, Porites lobata and Pocillopora damicornis, from Enipein, Micronesia NETH , Leinson; University of Hawaii leinson@yahoo.com

Coral reefs are often affected by a suite of processes that are becoming increasingly influenced by land-use practices and related terrestrial activities. As a result, the survival and persistence of coastal coral reefs are at risk. The need for increased monitoring of coral health is necessary to address stressors prior to coral mortality. Our current study measured levels of DNA damage in corals located in the coastal reef of Enipein, Federated States of Micronesia. Two coral species, Pocillopora damicornis and Porites lobata, were sampled over a gradient from shore to determine if a correlation exists between DNA damage and distance from shore. No significant differences in levels of DNA damage with increased distance from shore were found for either Pocillopora damicornis and Porites lobata. However, relative levels of DNA damage were lower in the P. damincornis species compared to P. lobata. This study is the first to record DNA AP damage levels in corals in the Enipein and provides a baseline of DNA AP damage for corals in the Micronesian islands.