Projeto de pesquisa

In coral reefs environment, reef flats are known to be the most productive and diverse part of the reef. However, being in the shallowest part of the reef means that parameters as temperature, salinity, water flow and solar radiation are frequently varying what may challenge the tolerance limits of reef flat species. This study aims to investigates if there is any difference between intertidal and subtidal Palythoa Caribaeorum physiological and biochemical responses to subaerial exposure (emersion). We hypothesize that 1 h emersion will influence the studied parameters, just like a re-emersion after this exposure period. Samples of Palythoa Caribaeorum will be collected at São Sebastião Channel and brought to CEBIMAR (University of São Paulo Marine Biology Center) facilities to perform the experiment. After the experiments performance, the following parameters will be analyzed, (i) oxygen consumption (metabolic rate), (ii) quantification and qualification of the mucus cell, (iii) GST activity, (iv) TBARS concentration, (v) DNA damage concentration, (vi) carbonyl protein concentration, (vii) total antioxidant capacity (ACAP), and (viii) Symbiodiniaceae density and photosynthetic efficiency. Results will be analyzed and compared between intertidal and subtidal Palythoa Caribaeorum samples to understand if current subaerial exposure in the wild supply the coral with different physiological and biochemical mechanisms to handle this condition. Therefore, we expect that intertidal individuals of Palythoa caribaeorum will present different physiological and biochemical responses from the subtidal individuals. Aspects like enzymatic activity, oxidative stress and Photosyntetic efficiency and Symbiodiniaceae should be modeled for intertidal organisms.