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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Fundación de Investigación y Desarrollo de la Universidad Simón Bolívar (recommended by overseas office)

Implementation of toxicogenomies and biology of coral diseases: towards a comprehensive environmental coral reef monitoring program at Los Rogues National Park

Research grant

Project Description
The research aims to apply modern molecular genetic tools for the early detection of coral response to toxic pollution and to use the study of coral diseases to better understand the impact of global climate change at Los Roques National Park. The specific objectives of the project are: 1) to determine the temporal fluctuations in surface seawater temperature, the abundance and distribution of benthic and coral communities, and the heavy metal and total residual petroleum hydrocarbon (TRPH) levels in sediments; 2) to identify novel genetic markers for early response of corals to petroleum hydrocarbons by analyzing gene expression in controlled bioassays; 3) to evaluate the role of coral diseases for reef health in Los Roques.
Fields
Preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY11/3 Research Grants
Grant term
Two years
April 2011 - March 2013
Grant amount
Grant amount $102.030
Activity region
Venezuela
Coral survey in cayo de agua