An effect-analysis method for species-dependent coral health status in temperature and ammonia: a case study of Acropora sp., Turbinaria sp., and Porites sp.

¹ Graduate student, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
² Senior Researcher, Aquatic Resources Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Abstract

This research aimed to study the effects of temperature and ammonia on the health status of Acropora sp., Turbinaria sp., and Porites sp. by using acute toxicity testing (50% Lethal Concentration: LC₅₀). The acute effects were monitored at temperatures of 30°C and 33°C at 24 and 48 hrs. The concentrations of ammonia varied at 0 0.05 0.07 and 0.1 mgN/L, respectively. The active polyp percentages of Acropora sp. was analyzed with comparison to the health status percentages. According to the findings at 30°C (24 and 48 hrs) and 33°C (24 hrs), the LC₅₀ could not be investigated because the mortality percentages was not below 50%. On the other hand, at 33°C (48 hrs), the LC₅₀ could be evaluated because the mortality percentages exceeded 50%. Therefore, the LC₅₀ at 48 hrs of Acropora sp., Turbinaria sp., and Porites sp. were equal to 0.043, 0.075 and 0.054 mgN/L, respectively.