es are taken from the Parque National del Este off the coast of the Dominican Republic. She and Swart use a method of collection that ensure no harm comes to the living coral. They remove a 2-inch diameter core from the coral and then fill the hole to ensure nothing can get inside and erode the skeleton. The surface is finished so that within approximately six years, new coral begins to grow over the surface. They even attach a platform to the coral before they drill so that their hands do not damage the animals.

"The only part of the coral that is living is a few millimeters on the top of the core," says Greer. "This is quickly replaced once the hole is filled."

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Contact: A'ndrea Elyse Messer
aem1@psu.edu
814-865-9481
Penn State
7-Dec-2002

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