The impacts of dredging on the early life history stages of coral

Gerard Ricardo

Research output: Thesis › Doctoral Thesis

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Abstract

Dredging operations in Australia are often halted during periods when corals are likely to spawn; however, the effectiveness of this shut-down period remains unknown. In this thesis, I identified all possible cause-effect pathways where sediment could affect the key early-life stages of corals, and quantified pressure-response relationships. Suspended sediment generally presented a low-to-moderate risk to pelagic stages (i.e. egg-sperm bundle, fertilisation, embryo, and larval), whereas deposited sediment presented a higher risk to the benthic stage (i.e. settlement). These results provide an empirical basis to formally assess the implications of future dredging over the coral spawning window.
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDoctor of Philosophy
Awarding Institution
  • The University of Western Australia
Thesis sponsors
Award date9 Aug 2017
Publication statusUnpublished - 2017

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dredging
coral
life history
sperm
suspended sediment
sediment
embryo
spawning
egg

Cite this

Ricardo, Gerard. / The impacts of dredging on the early life history stages of coral. 2017.
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title = "The impacts of dredging on the early life history stages of coral",
abstract = "Dredging operations in Australia are often halted during periods when corals are likely to spawn; however, the effectiveness of this shut-down period remains unknown. In this thesis, I identified all possible cause-effect pathways where sediment could affect the key early-life stages of corals, and quantified pressure-response relationships. Suspended sediment generally presented a low-to-moderate risk to pelagic stages (i.e. egg-sperm bundle, fertilisation, embryo, and larval), whereas deposited sediment presented a higher risk to the benthic stage (i.e. settlement). These results provide an empirical basis to formally assess the implications of future dredging over the coral spawning window.",
keywords = "Sediment, Coral reproduction, Dredging, Larvae",
author = "Gerard Ricardo",
year = "2017",
language = "English",
school = "The University of Western Australia",

}

Ricardo, G 2017, 'The impacts of dredging on the early life history stages of coral', Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Western Australia.

The impacts of dredging on the early life history stages of coral. / Ricardo, Gerard.

2017.

Research output: Thesis › Doctoral Thesis

TY - THES

T1 - The impacts of dredging on the early life history stages of coral

AU - Ricardo, Gerard

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Dredging operations in Australia are often halted during periods when corals are likely to spawn; however, the effectiveness of this shut-down period remains unknown. In this thesis, I identified all possible cause-effect pathways where sediment could affect the key early-life stages of corals, and quantified pressure-response relationships. Suspended sediment generally presented a low-to-moderate risk to pelagic stages (i.e. egg-sperm bundle, fertilisation, embryo, and larval), whereas deposited sediment presented a higher risk to the benthic stage (i.e. settlement). These results provide an empirical basis to formally assess the implications of future dredging over the coral spawning window.

AB - Dredging operations in Australia are often halted during periods when corals are likely to spawn; however, the effectiveness of this shut-down period remains unknown. In this thesis, I identified all possible cause-effect pathways where sediment could affect the key early-life stages of corals, and quantified pressure-response relationships. Suspended sediment generally presented a low-to-moderate risk to pelagic stages (i.e. egg-sperm bundle, fertilisation, embryo, and larval), whereas deposited sediment presented a higher risk to the benthic stage (i.e. settlement). These results provide an empirical basis to formally assess the implications of future dredging over the coral spawning window.

KW - Sediment

KW - Coral reproduction

KW - Dredging

KW - Larvae

M3 - Doctoral Thesis

ER -

Ricardo G. The impacts of dredging on the early life history stages of coral. 2017.

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  • THESIS_DOCTOR_OF_PHILOSOPHY_RICARDO_Gerard_Francis_2017

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