Dataset: Seaweed growth, palatability, and chemical defense (anti-coral and anti-herbivore) following 8 days of contact with a coral competitor in the Viti Levu, Fiji from May 2011 (Killer Seaweeds project)

The study was conducted in May–December 2011 on an approximately1.5-2.5 m deep reef flat within a no-take marine reserve at Votua Village, Viti Levu, Fiji. Seaweed species studied were Sargassum polycystum and the red seaweed Galaxaura filamentosa.  Growth of the two species was measured as wet mass when closely associated with live or dead pieces of the coral Porites cylindrica. To assess growth, we measured the spun wet mass (g) of each treatment and control pair before and after the 8-day competition period. 

Relevant References:

* Rasher DB and ME Hay. "Competition induces allelopathy but suppresses growth and anti-herbivore defense in a chemically rich seaweed".  Proceedings of the Royal Society: B-Biological Sciences. vol. 281 no. 1777 20132615, 2014  (http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.2615).

Rasher DB, Stout EP, Engel S, Kubanek J, and ME Hay. "Macroalgal terpenes function as allelopathic agents against reef corals", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, v. 108, 2011, p. 17726.

Beattie AJ, ME Hay, B Magnusson, R de Nys, J Smeathers, JFV Vincent. "Ecology and bioprospecting," Austral Ecology, v.36, 2011, p. 341.

Rasher DB and ME Hay. "Seaweed allelopathy degrades the resilience and function of coral reefs," Communicative and Integrative Biology, v.3, 2010.

Hay ME, Rasher DB. "Corals in crisis," The Scientist, v.24, 2010, p. 42.

Hay ME and DB Rasher. "Coral reefs in crisis: reversing the biotic death spiral," Faculty 1000 Biology Reports 2010, v.2, 2010.

Rasher DB and ME Hay. "Chemically rich seaweeds poison corals when not controlled by herbivores", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, v.107, 2010, p. 9683.