Can organic pollution affect the growth rate of octocorals in the Caribbean?

Abstract

Organic pollution in the Havana coastline is affecting octocorals assemblages, and little is known about its effect on the growth rate (GR). A fi xed belt transect (250 x 2 m) was used to locate the colonies. The GR of Eunicea fl exuosa and Plexaura kuekenthali was signifi cantly higher in the reef with more organic pollution (3,6 cm/año y 4,1 cm/año, respectively) vs. reference sites, which seems to be related to their heterotrophy.