Study

Intraspecific variation in phenotype among nursery-reared staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis (Lamarck, 1816)

  • Published source details Lohr K.E. & Patterson J.T. (2017) Intraspecific variation in phenotype among nursery-reared staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis (Lamarck, 1816). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 486, 87-92.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Cultivate coral fragments in an artificial nursery located in a natural habitat

Action Link
Coral Conservation
  1. Cultivate coral fragments in an artificial nursery located in a natural habitat

    A replicated study (year not given) at an in-situ coral nursery in a natural habitat in Florida, USA (Lohr & Patterson 2017), found that transplanting nursery-grown fragments of staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis of different genotypes (genetic makeup) led to differences in buoyant weight, linear growth, and number of branches between some fragments. Thirteen months after transplanting, net buoyant weight of fragments was higher for genotypes U41 (74 g), K2 (72 g) and U73 (69 g) than for U25 (33 g). Growth (total linear extension) was greater for U41 (133 cm), K2 (124 cm) and U73 (117 cm) compared to U25 (43 cm). There were no other significant differences in buoyant weight or growth between fragments. The number of branches recorded after 291 days ranged from 8–30/fragment and average number of branches/fragment varied between genotypes (numbers not reported). Ten known genotypes (K1, K2, K3, U25, U41, U44, U47, U73, U77, U78) of staghorn coral were selected. Four non-branched tips (~5 cm) were clipped from each of three colonies/genotype (12 fragments/genotype). Fragments were each weighed and randomly suspended from one of four PVC tree structures using monofilament and aluminium crimps. Tree structures were placed on the sea floor. Buoyant weight was recorded at the start then at days 122 and 390 (the end of the experiment). Linear growth and number of branches were recorded at the start and every 45 days.

    (Summarised by: Ann Thornton)

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