Another potentially objectionable factor in the experimental method is the use 

 of acetone to dissolve the organochlorines . Whatever the artifact which it 

 may introduce, however, when corals are subjected to uncontaminated acetone 

 in the same concentrations as used in the organochlorine experiments , no 

 change in O2 generation or uptake was observed. 



Our initial respirometry apparatus proved to be inadequate, and we found we 

 had not anticipated some of the conditions under which it was required to op- 

 erate. The early failure rate was high, and the reliable respiration data 

 eventually came from a respirometer improvised from parts of other inoperable 

 apparatus. Because several day's time was required for each experiment, the 

 sampling is rather small. We were also thereby restricted in the range of 

 dosages in testing respiration effects. From our experience, we have now 

 designed a vastly improved underwater respirometer. 



Whatever the significance of our organochlorine dosing experiments, we 

 are confident of the reliability of our respiration measurements. For the 

 first time, it has been possible to do m situ physiological measurements 

 of the metabolism of individual corals at depth. Bringing a laboratory 

 facility to the reef, together with such accoutrements as electrical power, 

 etc., has opened up exciting opportunities for increasingly sophisticated 

 research endeavors. Hopefully, the habitat's obvious advantages for field 

 natural history endeavors will be augmented by the installation of instru- 

 ments and equipment capable of measuring standard oceanographic and 

 physiological parameters. 



Vl-237 



