Outplanting of branching Acropora enhances recolonization of a fish species and protects massive corals from predation
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Published source details
Tiddy I.C., Kaullysing D., Bailey D.M., Chummun P.K., Killen S.S., Vin A.L. & Bhagooli R. (2021) Outplanting of branching Acropora enhances recolonization of a fish species and protects massive corals from predation. Coral Reefs, 40, 1549-1561.
Published source details Tiddy I.C., Kaullysing D., Bailey D.M., Chummun P.K., Killen S.S., Vin A.L. & Bhagooli R. (2021) Outplanting of branching Acropora enhances recolonization of a fish species and protects massive corals from predation. Coral Reefs, 40, 1549-1561.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Transplant wild-grown coral onto artificial substrate Action Link |
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Transplant wild grown coral onto natural substrate Action Link |
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Transplant wild-grown coral onto artificial substrate
A replicated study in 2018–2019 at six coral reef sites off Mauritius (Tiddy et al. 2021) found that after Acropora muricata were transplanted onto an artificial substrate next to existing Porites lutea colonies, Porites lutea colonies with adjacent Acropora muricata had similar bite density and surface area damage compared to in-situ colonies with no adjacent Acropora muricata. Data reported as statistical model outputs. In December 2018, at each of three sites, 40 Acropora muricata fragments were transplanted to 10 existing, isolated Porites lutea colonies (four fragments/ colony). Fragments consisted of a forked branch measuring approximately 30–40 cm in length. Transplanted Acropora muricata and existing Porites lutea were fixed together to concrete blocks with cement and string. Transplanted corals were monitored in February–March, April, and June 2019. In-situ Porites lutea (434 colonies) with no adjacent Acropora muricata were monitored across six sites every two months from September 2018 to June 2019.
(Summarised by: William Morgan)
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Transplant wild grown coral onto natural substrate
A replicated study in 2018–2019 at six coral reef sites off Mauritius (Tiddy et al. 2021) found that some Porites lutea transplanted onto natural substrates survived and had similar predator bite density and surface damage as corals left in-situ. Twenty-eight of 55 (51%) transplanted colonies were lost or died. Transplanted and in-situ corals had similar predator bite density (transplanted: 0.3–0.7 bites/cm2, in-situ: 0.2–0.6 bites/cm2) and surface area damage (transplanted: 11–33%, in-situ: 8–32%). In addition, bite density and surface area damage were lower for corals transplanted to damselfish Stegastes spp. territories (bite density: 0.3–0.4 bites/cm2, surface damage: 11–20%) compared to outside territories (bite density: 0.7 cm2, surface damage: 33%). A total of 55 colonies were transplanted. Ten colonies were transplanted to each of three sites containing damselfish territories, and a further 25 colonies were transplanted to adjacent degraded areas with no damselfish territories (5–10 colonies/area). Colonies were transplanted whole (80 cm2 average surface area) and placed directly among the branches of Acropora muricata colonies. Transplanted colonies were monitored in February–March, April, and June 2019 to assess survival and predation. A total of 651 in-situ corals were also monitored across six sites every two months from September 2018 to June 2019.
(Summarised by: William Morgan)
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