Laboratory experiments on the effects of crude oil on the Red Sea coral Stylophora pistillata

Sub-lethal detrimental effects of Iranian crude oil were studied on the hermatypic coral Stylophora pistillata in a long term laboratory experiment. The experimental system consisted of four 1500 l. capacity tanks, two of which were periodically polluted. A significant decrease in the number of female gonads per polyp were recorded in 75% of the colonies in the polluted tanks. It is concluded that chronic-oil pollution damages the reproductive system of scleractinian corals.