Environmental sensitivity of cold water corals

Updated 2003-06-20

Distribution • What is the current distribution of coral colonies in the North Sea? • Where are coral colonies located on the structures? • Do any colonies show evidence of exposure to drill cuttings? Monitoring & Environmental Recording • What hydrodynamic regime and levels of suspended particulate material are coral colonies exposed to? • Does the coral skeleton retain an archive of any past contamination? • Does skeletal growth vary over time and does this correlate with any past contamination? • How variable is the rate of coral growth and does this correlate with any environmental variables? Environmental Sensitivity • What effect does increased sediment load have on coral behaviour and physiology? • What effect does exposure to discharges (e.g. cuttings and produced water) have on coral behaviour and physiology? • Are such exposures realistic in the field?

Time frame

Status
Ongoing
Project time span
2002 - 2005
Data collection
2002 - 2004
Data processing
2003 - 2005
Data reporting
2004 - 2005

Contact information

Contact person
Murray Roberts
Address
Scottish Association for Marine Science Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory Oban Argyll Scotland PA37 1QA
Phone
+44 (0) 1631 559241
Fax
+ 44 (0) 1631 559001
Email
ku.ca.lmd@strebor.yarrum
Other project contacts
Susan Gass Scottish Association for Marine Science Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory Oban Argyll Scotland PA37 1QA E: susan.gass@dml.ac.uk

Parameters and Media

Parameter groups measured/observed/modelled
Biological effects
Petroleum hydrocarbons
Media sampled/studied/modelled
Marine benthos
Additional information or further specification of types of data / information collected, species / tissues / organs sampled, etc.

Cold water corals

Geography

Regions studied
Petroleum hydrocarbons
Petroleum hydrocarbons
Petroleum hydrocarbons
Other areas
North Sea

Data availability

Samples/specimens archived in specimen banks?
No

Methods & Procedures

Not specified

Additional Information

Is this a bi- AND multi-lateral project (i.e. a project involving cooperation between different countries)?
No
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