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A survey of environmental pollutants and cellular-stress markers of Porites astreoides at six sites in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

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Abstract

Coral communities along the coast of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands have exhibited site-specific behavior in declines. In order to determine if these specific coral communities are stressed and whether a pollutant or environmental factor present at this site is a probable stressor, we surveyed six near-shore coral communities in St. John, USVI for environmental pollutants and to determine the cellular physiological condition of the coral, Porites astreoides. The six sites within St. John are Cruz Bay, Caneel Bay, Hawksnest Bay, Trunk Bay, Tektite Reef in Beehive Bay, and Red Point. Red Point was considered the reference site because of its abundance and diversity of species, and it was the furthest removed from down-stream and down-current anthropogenic activities. All sites showed distinct cellular-stress marker patterns, indicating that the physiological condition of each population was different. Populations at Cruz, Hawksnest, Trunk, and Tektite were stressed, as indicated by high levels of DNA lesions and expression of stress proteins. Hawksnest and Tektite were contaminated with polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), while Cruz was contaminated with semi-volatile organochlorines and nitrogen-based biocides. At least for Hawksnest and Tektite, stress-marker patterns were consistent with an exposure to PAHs. Fecal coliform levels were high in Cruz and Trunk, indicating fecal contamination, as well as consideration for management action. Results from this study serve as a justification for a more thorough and methodical investigation into the stressors responsible for declines of coral populations within St. John. Furthermore, this study supports the argument for the importance of local factors contributing to regional coral reef declines; that not all forces impacting coral are global.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Rafe Boulon, Caroline Rogers, Jeff Miller, Tony Spitzack, Colette Diede of 6-Paq SCUBA, and Caneel Bay Resort. We would also like to thank Dr. Sylvia Galloway for editing and formatting assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, P.O. Box 92, Clifford, VA, 24533, USA

    Craig A. Downs

  2. Office of Public Health Studies, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Manoa, 1960 East-West Road, BioMed Tower, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Craig A. Downs

  3. U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, NOS CCEHBR Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC, 29412, USA

    Cheryl M. Woodley

  4. Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL, 32816-2368, USA

    John E. Fauth

  5. Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Sean Knutson & Gary K. Ostrander

  6. Environmental Research Institute, North Highland College, UHI Millennium Institute, Castle Street, Thurso, KW14 7JD, Scotland, UK

    Martina Maria Burtscher

  7. JHT Inc. Contractor at National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, NOS CCEHBR Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC, 29412, USA

    Lisa A. May, Athena R. Avadanei & Julie L. Higgins

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  1. Craig A. Downs
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Correspondence to Cheryl M. Woodley.

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Downs, C.A., Woodley, C.M., Fauth, J.E. et al. A survey of environmental pollutants and cellular-stress markers of Porites astreoides at six sites in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Ecotoxicology 20, 1914–1931 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-011-0729-7

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