Hypothesis

With support from the literature, it is hypothesized that G. ventalina colonies in reefs of the Bermuda coast with higher than average water temperatures, higher than average nutrient levels, and exposed to higher than average environmental stress will have a higher incidence of infection with Aspergillosis. It is predicted that areas with higher densities of G. ventalina will have higher incidence of Aspergillosis. It is also hypothesized that areas with these characteristics will have a higher than average incidence of G. ventalina colonies lacking zooxanthellae, due to the fact that environmental stresses such as increased temperature may decrease photosynthetic ability. Therefore, there may be a relationship between the proportion of diseased colonies and the proportion of colonies lacking zooxanthellae.

Methods

Water samples, temperature levels, and band transect samples were taken at each location. Water samples and temperature recordings were taken at the location and water depth that band transects were taken. Water was sampled and stored in a 50ml plastic vial and was frozen to be analyzed upon return to the laboratory. LaMotte Estuary and Marine Monitoring Kit was used to measure pH, nitrate, and phosphate at each location on both dates.

Test results were ranked according to the standards stated in the LaMotte Kit:

Ten band transects at a distance of five meters each were taken at each site. Transects ran along the sloping seaward side of the reefs, due to the fact that this type of area is the preferred habitat of G. ventalina. A G. ventalina colony was located as the starting location for a transect, continuing the transect along the reef. Due to the nature of the natural rock and reef formation, transects were not straight five meter sections, but rather curved to accommodate the shape of the rock and reef formation.

In order to evaluate a transect, the number of fin-kicks it took to travel five meters was evaluated at each location. This was done to take wave action and currents into account at each location. Five meter transects were observed in the area directly below and within total vision, without glancing or deviating from this pattern. The number of non-diseased sea fan colonies, diseased sea fan colonies, and sea fan colonies partially or entirely lacking zooxanthellae were tallied within each transect. If less than 50% of the surface area of a sea fan was covered by zooxanthellae it was considered "partially" covered. Presenence was  identified by zooxanthellae's natural brown to green coloration; without it the purple sea fan coloration was visible.

 
Whalebone Bay: Data was collected at the northern seaward

Well Bay: Data was collected at the southern seaward
side of a peninsula that juts out into the bay from
the north.