The impacts of competitive interactions on coral colonies after transplantation: A multispecies experiment from the Florida Keys, US

Published source details Lustic C., Maxwell K., Bartels E., Reckenbeil B., Utset E., Schopmeyer S., Zink I. & Lirman D. (2020) The impacts of competitive interactions on coral colonies after transplantation: A multispecies experiment from the Florida Keys, US. Bulletin of Marine Science, 96, 805-818.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Remove problematic species Action Link
	Transplant nursery-grown coral onto natural substrate Action Link

Remove problematic species

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2016–2017 at a coral reef in Florida, USA (Lustic et al. 2020) found that removing algae, along with zoanthids Palythoa caribaeorum, from around colonies of three stony coral species immediately after transplanting resulted in greater overall survival compared to those with algae and zoanthids removed monthly or not removed, and there were mixed effects on growth. After 17–18 months, overall survival for three coral species combined was greater at transplant sites where algae and zoanthids were initially removed than at sites where algae and zoanthids were removed monthly or not removed (data reported as statistical model results). Removing algae and zoanthids initially or monthly led to greater increases in volume of staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis colonies (990–1,409%), greater losses in surface area of great star coral Montastraea cavernosa colonies (-25 to -30%) and similar losses in surface area of mountainous star coral Orbicella faveolate colonies (-4 to -12%) compared to colonies without algae and zoanthids removed (staghorn: 570%; great star: -8%; mountainous star: -12%). In March 2016, forty-five nursery-grown colonies of each of three coral species (staghorn: 66–575 cm³; great star: 45–120 cm²; mountainous star: 38–130 cm²) were transplanted onto hard substrate on a reef. One of each of three treatments was applied to each colony: algae and zoanthids Palythoa caribaeorum removed from a circle of 25-cm radius at the time of transplanting or at monthly intervals, or algae not removed (15 colonies/species/treatment). Colony survival and growth (volume or surface area of live tissue) were recorded after 3, 6, 9, 13 and 17–18 months.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)
Transplant nursery-grown coral onto natural substrate

A replicated, randomized study in 2016–2017 at a coral reef in Florida, USA (Lustic et al. 2020) found that the majority of nursery-grown colonies of three stony coral species transplanted onto natural substrate survived, and surviving colonies of one of three coral species increased in size, while the other two decreased. After 17–18 months, 46 of 60 (77%) staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis colonies, 43 of 60 (72%) great star coral Montastraea cavernosa colonies, and 55 of 60 (92%) mountainous star coral Orbicella faveolata colonies survived. On average, surviving staghorn coral colonies increased in volume by 1,015%, whereas great star coral and mountainous star coral colonies decreased in surface area by 23% and 11%, respectively. Staghorn coral colonies (66–575 cm³) were collected from an ex-situ nursery, and great star (45–120 cm²) and mountainous star (38–130 cm²) coral colonies from an in-situ nursery. In March 2016, sixty colonies of each species were transplanted onto the hard substrate of a coral reef (≥2-m apart, 8-m deep) using nails and zipties or cement and Plaster of Paris. Areas around half of the transplant sites were cleared of algae and zoanthids Palythoa caribaeorum. After 17-18 months, surviving colonies were counted and measured in the field or from photographs.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)