Coral Gardening - Transplantation Phase — Plantation Key, Florida

OPP-H5BHDDpermanent identifier · cite as oceanportfolio.org/p/OPP-H5BHDD

Published as: Density dependence drives habitat production and survivorship of Acropora cervicornis used for restoration on a Caribbean coral reef. | Technique: Coral Gardening - Transplantation Phase | Disturbance addressed: General degradation | Genera: Acropora | Method: Four experimental blocks of six 4m2 plots were established, with each plot separated by ≥5m. Each block contained one replicate of each density treatment, randomly assigned: 3-, 6-, 12-, or 24-colonies, as well as control plots without corals. Three A. cervicornis genotypes were used in equal ratios. Four replicates of each treatment were outplanted in the randomized block design for a total of 228 corals outplanted into twenty-four 4m2 plots. Growth, survival and predation were monitored. | Survival of transplants reported by the source: 77.5% | Post-restoration monitoring: 13 months | Authors' conclusion: Survivorship of restored corals decreased with increasing density. Outplanting A. cervicornis in moderate densities (3 corals m−2) maximizes growth rates and habitat production while minimizing tissue loss and coral mortality. | Lessons reported: Colony density significantly affects the outcome of transplantation efforts. | This record was compiled from a published source and has not been confirmed by the organisation that carried out the work. No contribution to the condition index is recorded: the source reports survival of transplanted material, which is not a measure of ecosystem condition.

Recorded result

No result recorded yet. A result is recorded when the project moves to Paused, Completed or Discontinued.

A variable shows "pending" instead of a contribution when no domain area has been set for it yet — the share of the world a project touched cannot be computed without one. The health percentages are accurate regardless.