Two offshore coral species show greater acclimatization capacity to environmental variation than nearshore counterparts in southern Belize

Published source details Baumann J.H., Bove C.B., Carne L., Gutierrez I. & Castillo K.D. (2021) Two offshore coral species show greater acclimatization capacity to environmental variation than nearshore counterparts in southern Belize. Coral Reefs, 40, 1181-1194.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Transplant wild-grown coral onto artificial substrate Action Link

Transplant wild-grown coral onto artificial substrate

A replicated, controlled study in 2017–2019 at two reefs off Belize (Baumann et al. 2021) found that some stony corals Pseudodiploria strigosa and Siderastrea siderea transplanted between offshore and nearshore reefs survived for at least 17 months and in three of four cases corals grew over that period. For transplants from an offshore to nearshore reef, survival after 17 months was 96% for both species. For transplants from a nearshore to offshore reef, survival after 17 months was 92% for Pseudodiploria strigosa and 32% for Siderastrea siderea. Survival of fragments placed back in their native reef was 100% for Pseudodiploria strigosa (offshore and nearshore) and 100% (offshore) or 72% (nearshore) for Siderastrea siderea. All transplanted Pseudodiploria strigosa had gained weight after 17 months (77–146% increase). For Siderastrea siderea, fragments transplanted to the nearshore reef gained weight (79% after 17 months) but those transplanted offshore did not (-3% after 17 months). Results on endosymbiont density, chlorophyll-a concentration and energy reserves were also reported. In 2017, colonies were collected from a nearshore and offshore reef (6 colonies/reef/species) and fragmented. Fragments were super-glued to plastic dishes with pre-drilled holes, attached to mesh nursery tables using cable ties and installed on the sea floor. Six fragments from each colony (12 colonies/species) were transplanted (nearshore to offshore, or offshore to nearshore) and six were placed back in their native reef. A subset of fragments was collected after three (35 fragments), nine (37) or 17 months (46) to assess growth and survival.

(Summarised by: William Morgan)