Effects of crude oil on corals

Corals are key members of the tropical reef communities, by providing habitat for other organisms and entering importantly into the overall metabolism of the reef community. Concern has been expressed several times at the collapse of the community that would result from damage to corals by oil pollution. So far relatively few experimental studies of the susceptibility of coral to oil have been carried out. In this study four Panamanian coral species have been exposed to marine diesel and bunker oil. These may cause delayed death, but probably more importantly interfere with feeding and metabolism at sub-lethal concentrations.