Acute Exposure of Acropora cervicornis to Port Everglade Sediment

The study found that the physical aspects of acute (72-hour) turbidity exposure treatments, specifically light reduction, had minimal impacts on the biology and physiology of Acropora cervicornis. Differences were observed in the responses of different genotypes, highlighting the significance of genetic variability. Exposure to elevated turbidity levels caused an increase in coral respiration suggesting that prolonged exposure to turbidity can affect the metabolic activity of corals. Physiological changes were detected in the corals, indicating that the impacts of turbidity on coral health may be delayed and not immediately apparent. Conducting recovery assessments is crucial to understanding the short-term and potential long-term effects of acute turbidity on corals. Further research is necessary to gather comprehensive evidence on the effects of turbidity on coral health. These findings contribute to our understanding of how acute turbidity exposure impacts coral reef ecosystems and inform management and conservation efforts for these vulnerable marine organisms.