Table 1 Summary of previous studies of the phototoxic effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on scleractinian corals.

From: Phototoxic effects of two common marine fuels on the settlement success of the coral Acropora tenuis

Species

Hydrocarbon

UVR source

Chemical analysis

Endpoint

Toxicity values (µg l−1)

Phototoxic effects

Reference

Acropora tenuis (larvae)*

Anthracene (A), Phenanthrene (P) (48 h exposure)

Artificial UVR 0.68 mW cm−2 (10 h per 24 h, co-exposure)

PAH (GC-MS)

Survival

LC50: 44 (−UVR) and 18 (+UVR) µg l−1 (A); no effect (±UVR) (P)

Yes: Anthracene

Overmans et al.18

Metamorphosis

EC50: 45 (−UVR) and 6.3 (+UVR) µg l−1 (A); 91 (−UVR) and 66 (+UVR) µg l−1 (P)

No: Phenathrene

Acropora tenuis (larvae)

Australian North West Shelf condensate (24 h exposure)

Ambient solar 4.5–6.8 mW cm−2 (2 h, co-exposure)

BTEX, PAH, TRH (GC-MS)

Metamorphosis

IC50: 339 (−UVR) and 132 (+UVR) µg TPAH l−1

Yes

Negri et al.29

Porites divaricata (adult)

Fluoranthene (4.5 h exposure)

Ambient solar (ambient L:D cycle for 6 d, seq. exposure)

Nil

Mortality/Bleaching

LC50: 435.2 (−UVR; lower side of branches) and 31.4 µg l−1 (+UVR; upper side of branches)

Yes

Carmen Guzmán Martínez et al.27

Fungia scutaria (larvae)

Pyrene (2 h exposure)

Ambient solar 0.41–1.4 mW cm−2 (up to 8 h, seq. exposure)

Nil

Mortality

F. scutaria (+UVR): 100% mortality ≤1 h after exposure to 48 µg l−1.

Yes:

F. scutaria

M. verrucosa

P. damicornis

Peachey & Crosby17

Montipora verrucosa (adult)

M. verrucosa (+UVR): bleached 24 h after exposure to ≥16 µg l−1.

Pocillopora damicornis (adult)

Bleaching

P. damicornis (+UVR): bleached 24 h after exposure to 48 µg l−1.

No:

P. compressa

Porites compressa (adult)

P. compressa (+UVR): no effect.

All species (−UVR): no effect.

Montipora verrucosa (adult)

Pyrene (2 h exposure)

Artificial UVR 0.98–1.0 mW cm−2 (up to 8 h, seq. exposure)

Nil

Bleaching

Not reported

No (both species)

 

Pocillopora damicornis (adult)

  1. Study methodology, species tested, chemical analysis performed (if applicable), toxic endpoint and main results shown for each study. If no threshold values or concentrations are presented no effect was observed. Seq = sequential, organisms first exposed to pollutant followed by exposure to UVR while kept in clean FSW. GC-MS = gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Nil = no analysis reported.
  2. *Stress response-related gene expression and enzyme activity were also investigated (see reference for further details).
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