Effects of substratum on the growth and survivorship of Montipora capitata and Porites lobata transplants

Published source details Dubininkas V. (2017) Effects of substratum on the growth and survivorship of Montipora capitata and Porites lobata transplants. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 486, 134-139.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

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	Cultivate corals in an ex-situ nursery Action Link

Cultivate corals in an ex-situ nursery

A replicated study (year not provided) at an ex-situ coral nursery in Honolulu, Hawai’i, USA (Dubininkas 2017) found some variation in tissue growth and survival of stony coral Montipora capita and Porites lobata fragments transplanted onto different natural and synthetic substrate tiles. Average live tissue coverage at the start of the experiment was 1.61 cm². After 78 days, there was no significant difference between percentage increase in tissue growth on fragments on different substrate types (range: 60% amygdaloidal basalt to 33% porcelain tiles). After 184 days, increase in tissue surface area was higher for fragments on rhyolite breccia (99%) and amorphous coral skeletons (94%) compared to black ‘Aʻā lava (53%) but no other significant differences in tissue growth between the other 53 comparisons, or between species (see paper for results). After 365 days, survival was higher for fragments on marble tiles (100%) than on glass tiles (50%). There were no other significant differences in survival between substrate types and no difference between species (see paper for results). Fragments (2–3 cm long) were collected from colonies of Montopora capita and Porites lobata (132 fragments/species). Three fragments from each species were fixed, using marine expoxy, onto a 100–324 cm² tile. There were four tiles for each of 11 materials (total 264 fragments, 44 tiles). Percentage increase in tissue surface area was measured after 78 and 184 days, survival was measured after 365 days.

(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)