Eliminating coral-eating nudibranchs with potassium permanganate.

 

An Effective Solution

Hypothesis

     I hypothesize that a wide range of concentrations of potassium permanganate will be effective against the adult nudibranchs, but that solutions of concentrations lower than 50mg/L will not be potent enough to destroy the eggs. I also hypothesize that the corals will survive concentrations significantly higher than is necessary to destroy both nudibranchs and eggs. It is my theory that the corals will be protected by retraction of individual polyps into their skeleton and by the ability of coral colonies to secrete a mucous layer. These defence mechanisms should reduce the amount of contact between the tissues of the coral and the potassium permanganate solution.