Assessing the Utility of Aflp for Determining Mutational Changes in Coral Assessing the Utility of Aflp for Determining Mutational Changes in Coral

Introduction Degradation of the world's coral reefs is one of the most vivid examples of the effects of global environmental damage of marine ecosystems. The major stressors responsible for coral reef decline have been attributed to coastal urban and industrial development, agricultural activity, sedimentation, overharvesting, marine pollution, disease and climate change Reef species experiencing persistent environmental disturbances (e.g., coastal development and land‐based pollution) may exhibit acute mortality leading to a seemingly rapid loss of coral‐ reef diversity and abundance, but may also display non‐acute, sub‐lethal effects. These effects are often present as increased incidence of disease, altered growth and regeneration rates, reduced reproductive effort and reduced recruitment, which can ultimately result in a cascading effect of The ecological consequences to coral and coral reefs of exposures to increasing amounts and types of pollutants are difficult or impossible to assess in short‐ term (less than five years) studies. One of the most informative endpoints to measure