Interactive effects of herbicides and higher sea surface temperatures on Great Barrier Reef corals and crustose coralline algae (MTSRF Project 3.7.1a)

Updated: 2017-11-20

The coral, Acropora millepora and the crustose coralline algae, Neogoniolithon fosliei were exposed to 3 photosystem II (PSII) herbicides (diuron, hexazinone and atrazine). Corals were collected at depths between 1 and 3m from Double Cone Island and Hayman Island in the Whitsunday group. The crustose coralline algae was collected from Davies Reef at depths between 5 and 7m.Experiments assessed the effects of the variables temperature (26, 30, 31, 32 °C) in combination with 3 herbicide concentrations, and exposure duration (up to 7 days) on photosynthetic efficiency and bleaching. To examine the effects of the herbicides diuron, atrazine and hexazinone in conjunction with increasing temperatures on coral and crustose coralline algae.