The following is a major report that I compiled while being assigned a project to develop strategies to improve the ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef.

ABSTRACT

          Aquatic biomes possess some of the most diverse organisms that have ever been seen on planet Earth. Its biodiversity extends from the intriguing array of mollusks that inhabit the shallow rivers of the world to the mysterious cephalopods that roam the deepest regions of the ocean floor. But nowhere is aquatic biodiversity its richest but in the Coral Reef ecosystem that is found in the tropics. The Coral Reef ecosystem contains within it intricate ecological relationships between the organisms that call the reef home, such relationships allow many species of fishes to survive and also serves many purposes for terrestrial animals such as human beings. Man has always searched the sea for resources and had for thousands of years obtained food from the ocean and in today’s world coral reefs have served an aesthetic purpose that drives the economy of many developing (and developed) nations.

Despite the fact that many scientists have resorted to chemicals and non-biological means of controlling invasive species, none have truly worked especially when using it against those plant species such as the Japanese Knotweed that have become so established here in the United States. One method that can be used which few scientists have explored is Allelopathy.

Simply speaking, allelopathy is when plants produce compounds that can inhibit growth of other plants. This is a problem in places where invasive species can destroy many native plants by producing bio-molecules that are able to supress and ultimately kill nearby plants. However one can picture a reverse scenario whereby it is possible to use native plants that has allelopathic properties and suppress the growth of invasive species. Such a task may prove daunting due to the fact that in a given area, estimating and investigating which particular plant has specific allelopathic properties for a given invasive species, may prove time consuming and expensive.

The hard clam species Mercenaria mercenaria occurs along the eastern shores of North America. It belongs to the Bivalvia class of mollusks and is of great commercial importance to areas where clam farming is widely popular such as Greenwich, Connecticut. Knowledge of the ecology and physiological constraints of Mercenaria mercenaria is of utmost importance in propagating this species to the point where it can be harvested in amounts suitable for commercial use while also keeping the species in sufficient numbers. While many studies have been done on this quahog, this study was conducted as a side study in that it was a side conclusion of an experiment that pursued the goal of strip spawning and monitoring the larval development of Mercenaria mercenaria.