scientific hypothesis- Does lipid concentration and chlorophyll a levels decrease with higher levels of coral bleaching? Does this response vary among species? Is skeletal carbon, measured in delta C 13, effected?
what is the corelation between coral bleaching and lipid concentration, lipid class, and clorophyll a concentrations among Porites compressa and Montipora verrucosa.
statistical hypothesis predicts trends- Bleached corals will have lower levels of chlorophyll a, lipids, and
Grittoli et al. (2004) investigates several hypothesis on the impacts of bleaching on coral species Porites compressa and Montipora verrucosa. Corals mainly obtain energy through their symbiotic relationship with algae, which can be measured in chlorophyll a levels, but can also subside on lipid concentrations stored from excess carbon. Depending on where this energy is derived from is evident in the delta C 13 levels in coral skeleton. During bleaching events, when symbionts are not photosynthesizing to feed the coral, there is evidence that lipid composition changes. The main scientific hypothesis are 1) Lipid concentration and type, chlorophyll a, and delta C 14 levels are affected by coral bleaching, and 2) how do P. compressa and M. verrucosa each respond to bleaching in these regards. These address cause-and-effect relationships, therefore represent the scientific hypothesis. Statistical hypothesis predict trends. In this study, the alternate hypothesis, supporting that a pattern does exist, states that 1) lipid concentration, chlorophyl a levels, and delta C 14 decreases with increased bleaching, and 2) these results will differ depending on species. The null hypothesis would state that these variables are all random and have no effect.