Colony growth of corals transplanted for restoration depends on their site of origin and environmental factors
-
Published source details
Forrester G.E., Taylor K., Schofield S. & Maynard A. (2013) Colony growth of corals transplanted for restoration depends on their site of origin and environmental factors. Marine Ecology, 34, 186-192.
Published source details Forrester G.E., Taylor K., Schofield S. & Maynard A. (2013) Colony growth of corals transplanted for restoration depends on their site of origin and environmental factors. Marine Ecology, 34, 186-192.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
|
Transplant wild grown coral onto natural substrate Action Link |
 |
|
|
Transplant wild grown coral onto natural substrate Action Link |
|
-
Transplant wild grown coral onto natural substrate
A study in 2007–2008 and 2010–2011 at four coral reef sites near Guana Island, British Virgin Islands (Forrester et al. 2013b) found that transplanting storm-generated fragments of elkhorn coral Acropora palmata onto natural substrate led to live tissue growth for fragments from two of three collection sites. One year after transplanting, live tissue surface area of fragments collected from two sites increased by an average of 67–304%, whilst fragments collected from a third site decreased by an average of 38%. In July–August 2007 and 2010, storm-generated elkhorn coral fragments were collected on 1–2 occasions from three reefs (7–45 fragments/reef) and transplanted at a reef restoration site. Fragments were attached to bare reef or dead coral skeletons using cable ties or marine epoxy. Attachment sites were scraped with a wire brush prior to transplanting to remove macroalgae. Growth (surface area of live tissue) was measured using photographs immediately after transplanting and 12 months later.
(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)
-
Transplant wild grown coral onto natural substrate
A replicated, paired study in 2007–2011 at four coral reef sites near Guana Island, British Virgin Islands (Forrester et al. 2013b) found that transplanting storm-generated fragments of elkhorn coral Acropora palmata onto natural substrate at a new site led to slower live tissue growth or a reduction in live tissue compared to fragments transplanted at their original site. One year after transplanting, average increases in live tissue surface area for three fragment groups were lower at the new site (40–283%) than at original sites (218–349%). For one fragment group, live tissue surface area decreased by an average of 34% at the new site and increased by 135% at the original site. In July–August 2007, 2008, and 2010, four groups of storm-generated elkhorn coral fragments were collected from three reefs (14–32 fragments/reef). Each fragment was split into two sub-fragments using a hammer and chisel. One sub-fragment was reattached at the original collection site, and the other transplanted at a reef restoration site. Fragments were attached to bare reef or dead coral skeletons using cable ties or marine epoxy. Attachment sites were scraped with a wire brush prior to transplanting to remove macroalgae. Growth (surface area of live tissue) was measured using photographs immediately after transplanting and 12 months later.
(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)
)_2023.JPG)
