Propagation of the threatened staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis: methods to minimize the impacts of fragment collection and maximize production
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Published source details
Lirman D., Thyberg T., Herlan J., Hill C., Young-Lahiff C., Schopmeyer S., Huntington B., Santos R. & Drury C. (2010) Propagation of the threatened staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis: methods to minimize the impacts of fragment collection and maximize production. Coral Reefs, 29, 729-735.
Published source details Lirman D., Thyberg T., Herlan J., Hill C., Young-Lahiff C., Schopmeyer S., Huntington B., Santos R. & Drury C. (2010) Propagation of the threatened staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis: methods to minimize the impacts of fragment collection and maximize production. Coral Reefs, 29, 729-735.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
Action | Category | |
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Transplant nursery-grown coral fragments onto artificial substrate Action Link |
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Cultivate coral fragments in an artificial nursery located in a natural habitat Action Link |
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Transplant nursery-grown coral fragments onto artificial substrate
A replicated study in 2009 at coral nursery in Biscayne National Park, Florida, USA (Lirman et al. 2010) reported that larger nursery grown fragments of staghorn Acropora cervicornis coral transplanted onto ceramic disks had higher survival than smaller fragments. After 24–39 days, 25 of 27 (93%) larger (3.5 cm) fragments survived compared to 13 of 27 (48%) smaller (2.5 cm) fragments. In June 2009, thirty branch-tip fragments (15 x 2.5 cm and 15 x 3.5 cm length) were collected from 15 nursery-grown colonies of staghorn coral. These were taken to a boat and kept in buckets of water whilst being attached individually to ceramic disks using epoxy. In July 2009, twenty-four branch-tip fragments (12 x 2.5 cm and 12 x 3.5 cm length) were collected from the same nursery. These were attached to ceramic disks whilst underwater. Ceramic disks were attached to a PVC frame using cable ties and placed on the substrate 5.5 m deep within the nursery. Survival was recorded after 39 days (June fragments) and 24 days (July fragments).
(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)
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Cultivate coral fragments in an artificial nursery located in a natural habitat
A replicated study in 2015 at an artificial offshore coral nursery in a natural habitat near Looe Key, Florida, USA (Lirman et al. 2010) found that cultivating nursery-grown fragments of staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis by suspending them on lines resulted in greater linear growth but lower skeletal density compared to fragments cultivated on blocks attached to the seabed, but there was no difference in buoyant weight. After six months, average length was greater for line-suspended (15 cm) compared to block-attached fragments (10 cm). Skeletal density was lower for line-suspended (0.05 g cm3) compared to block-attached fragments (0.10 g cm3). There was no difference in buoyant weight (line-suspended: 15.2 mg/day, block-attached: 16.3 mg/day). Six months after the fragments were attached (6th October), fragments were completely bleached (but still living) following a bleaching event in summer but three weeks later (28th October) all fragments were dead. In April 2015, twenty-one stony coral branch tips (average length 6.8 cm) were collected from nursery-grown colonies on site. Nine fragments were suspended using fishing line from a PVC ‘tree’ attached to the seabed 6.4 m deep. Twelve fragments were attached to PVC discs using epoxy putty and bolted onto a PVC pipe attached to a cement block placed on the seabed 7.9 m deep. Average linear growth (cm/day), skeletal density (mg/day) and buoyant weight (mg/day) were calculated on 30 October 2015.
(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)
Output references
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