Engineering of coral reef larval supply through transplantation of nursery-farmed gravid colonies

Published source details Horoszowski-Fridman Y.B., Izhaki I. & Rinkevich B. (2011) Engineering of coral reef larval supply through transplantation of nursery-farmed gravid colonies. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 399, 162-166.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

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	Transplant nursery-grown coral fragments onto artificial substrate Action Link

Transplant nursery-grown coral fragments onto artificial substrate

A replicated, controlled study in 2005–2010 at five knolls in Eilat, Israel (Horoszowski-Fridman et al. 2011) found that nursery-grown stony coral Stylophora pistillata colonies transplanted onto natural substrate released a greater number of larvae in most cases compared to wild-grown resident colonies. During three reproductive seasons in each of two trials, greater numbers of larvae were released on average by transplanted nursery-grown colonies (4–23 larvae/colony) than wild-grown resident colonies (0–2 larvae/colony). In a third trial, transplanted nursery-grown colonies released more larvae than resident colonies during the first reproductive season (2 vs 12 larvae/colony), but the difference was not significant in the second season (2 vs 6 larvae/colony). In November 2005, May 2007 and September 2008, Stylophora pistillata colonies reared for 8–24 months in a floating nursery were transplanted onto five bare knolls, along with six other branching or stony coral species (total 1,400 colonies). Colonies were attached using pegs and masonry anchors inserted into drilled holes and secured with epoxy glue. During three reproductive seasons in 2007, 2009 and 2010, collection devices were placed over 20–54 transplanted and 10–40 nearby resident Stylophora pistillata colonies for several nights from sunset to sunrise. Collected larvae were counted using a dissecting microscope.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)