Effects on mortality and settlement of Pocillopora damicornis
planula larvae during recovery from low levels of Ni++ were investigated.
Results indicated that a nickel concentration of 9 ppm over 12 hr was sufficient
to cause 50% mortality in larvae 39.6 hr after removal of the toxicant. Settlement
in larvae was more sensitive, showing significantly reduced settlement rates from
9 days into recovery, after exposure to I ppm Ni++ at durations of 12-96 hr. It
is recommended that coral planula larvae be utilized more extensively in pollution
studies
