Restoration of critically endangered elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) populations using larvae reared from wild-caught gametes
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Published source details
Chamberland V.F., Vermeij M.J.A., Brittsan M., Carl M., Schick M., Snowden S., Schrier A. & Petersen D. (2015) Restoration of critically endangered elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) populations using larvae reared from wild-caught gametes. Global Ecology and Conservation, 4, 526-537.
Published source details Chamberland V.F., Vermeij M.J.A., Brittsan M., Carl M., Schick M., Snowden S., Schrier A. & Petersen D. (2015) Restoration of critically endangered elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) populations using larvae reared from wild-caught gametes. Global Ecology and Conservation, 4, 526-537.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Cultivate coral larvae in an artificial nursery located in a natural habitat Action Link |
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Cultivate coral larvae in an artificial nursery located in a natural habitat
A replicated study in 2012 - 2014 at an artificial nursery in a natural habitat in Curaçao, Southern Caribbean (Chamberland et al. 2015) found a higher survival rate for elkhorn coral Acropora palmata larvae outplanted on clay tripods in the wild compared to larvae reared in a land-based nursery, but no difference in size. Overall survival rate after 31 months was 6.8 times higher for outplanted (3.4%) compared to nursery-grown corals (0.5%). After 31 months, 32% of substrate structures in the wild supported at least one settler compared to 3% of structures in the nursery. There was no difference in average size of corals between outplanted (17 cm2) and nursery-grown coral (13 cm2) after 31 months. In August 2012, approximately 4,000 egg-sperm bundles were collected from four colonies of Elkhorn coral at 1–5 m deep. These were transferred to an ex-situ nursery and allowed to settle onto 320 clay pottery tripods (see paper for methods). After two weeks, 30 tripods each hosting an average of 11.1 settled larvae were transferred back to the reef and fixed to the substrate. Larvae on the other 30 tripods (average 11.1/tripod) were grown in the nursery. Survival (number of live settlers) was recorded after 1, 6, 11, 17 and 31 months. Size was measured after 17 and 31 months by photographing colonies against a ruler for scale. Costs reported in 2015: Nursery maintenance (including labour and utilities) = US$12,875/year. Larval rearing costs (including labour and materials) = US$8,814. Outplanting and monitoring (including labour and materials) = US$6,284. See paper for full cost breakdown.
(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)
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