Study

Spatial refugia mediate juvenile coral survival during coral-predator interactions

  • Published source details Gallagher C. & Doropoulos C. (2017) Spatial refugia mediate juvenile coral survival during coral-predator interactions. Coral Reefs, 36, 51-56.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Transplant wild-grown coral onto artificial substrate

Action Link
Coral Conservation
  1. Transplant wild-grown coral onto artificial substrate

    A replicated study in 2013 at a coral reef site in Pulau, Indonesia (Gallagher & Doropoulos 2017) found that transplanting juvenile wild-grown stony corals Porites lobata and Pocillopora damicornis into crevices on artificial settlement tiles led to a higher survival rate compared to transplants in partial crevices or fully exposed on the tile surface, but no difference between small or large crevices. Twenty-nine days after settlement tiles were installed, survival rate for Porites lobata was higher in the full crevices (93%) compared to partial crevices (68%) and fully exposed (28%) and higher in partial crevices compared to fully exposed. All juvenile Pocillopora damicornis except one had died by day eight although those in the full crevice survived longer (8 days) than partial crevice or fully exposed (both 6 days). There was no significant difference between survival rates for either species in different size crevices (data not reported). In June 2013, four hundred and eighty micro-nubbins (juveniles) were taken from each of five wild-grown colonies of Porites lobata and Pocillopora damicornis. Crevices (either 1.2 × 1.2 × 1.0 cm or 2.0 × 2.0 × 2.0 cm) were cut into 40 sand and cement settlement tiles (10 × 10 cm) creating a ‘chequerboard’ pattern. Twenty-four juveniles from the same species were glued to each tile in the full crevice (4/tile), partial crevice (open on one side 8/tile), or tile surface (fully exposed 12/tile). Tiles were placed on the sea floor, 7 m deep. Juveniles were monitored nine times during the 29-day experiment.  

    (Summarised by: Ann Thornton)

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