Use of diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry for verifying the detailed history of the whitening of marine coral samples

• Grant number: 03/06625-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2003
• End date: December 31, 2005
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Ines Joekes
• Grantee: Ines Joekes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In situations of environmental stress corals can lose the algal symbionts that live in their gastroderm and which give them their color, turning whitish. The whitening leaves the corals vulnerable to several pathologies and can evolve into cases of mortality of the colony or regression in cases of recuperation of algals and resumption of growth of the colonies. In this project it is intended to adapt and optimize the technique of diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry for verification of the whitening of samples with a known detailed history in order to validate the technique. With the technique validated, it is intended to determine the detailed history of the whitening of samples with unknown history. It is intended to carry out complementary and alternative trials for the determination of the history of whitening of coral samples. (AU)