1. Bloom of Doom
Michael Philippe-Auguste, Wendy Stewart, Jared Robbins,Yves Jodesty, Laticia Stewart, Gerard DiChara

2. Experiment
Test the effects on Aiptasia from decreased light levels created by phytoplankton blooms
Test the effects on Aiptasia from eutrophication of water due to the use of fertilizers.

3. Background Information
Fertilizers used in South Florida are high in nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen
Zooxanthellae stop providing nutrition to corals in fertile areas
Areas of high nutrition can fuel the growth of multi-cellular algae and seaweeds
Such blooms can inhibit the level of light allowed to aptasia

4. Procedure
Test whether growth inhibition and/or bleaching is greater with exposure to:
Decreased light level
Increased nutrients
Decreased light levels with increased nutrients

5. Hypothesis
We believe lower light levels will arrest growth more than increased nutrient levels

6. Until Next time….
Figure 1: Aiptasia polyp waiving good bye