Are vertical distribution patterns of scleractinian corals maintained by pre- or post-settlement processes? A case study of three contrasting species

Published source details Mundy C. & Babcock R. (2000) Are vertical distribution patterns of scleractinian corals maintained by pre- or post-settlement processes? A case study of three contrasting species. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 198, 109-119.
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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

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

A replicated study in 1994–1995 on an artificial nursery on a coral reef at Orpheus Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia (Mundy & Babcock 2000) found that some transplanted nursery-grown stony coral Goniastrea aspera, Oxypora lacera and Platygyra daedalea spat (settled larvae) on settlement tiles at different depths survived and survival rates were broadly similar between species and depths. Three months after transplanting, less than 15% of spat had survived. Twelve months after transplanting, there was no significant difference in average survival between species or depth transplanted at different depths (Goniastrea aspera: shallow 1.4%, mid 0.3%, lower3.1%; Oxypora lacera: shallow 1.1%, mid 2.4%, lower 1.6%; Platygyra daedalea: shallow2.1%, mid 1.4%, lower 1.6%). In December 1994, egg/sperm bundles were collected from 810 mature colonies of three species of stony coral and transferred to settlement jars for four days to develop. Larvae were transferred to PVC trays for five days to settle onto terracotta tiles (11 × 11 × 1 cm). Ten replicate settlement tiles/species were transferred to the reef and bolted to the substrate at each of three depths (shallow: 0 m; mid: 5 m; lower: 10 m). Survival and number of juvenile corals were counted after three and six months when tiles were retrieved for examination and returned to the reef within 24 hours. Tiles were then collected and examined at the end of the 12-month experiment. Tiles at the second site were retrieved and examined after three months but not returned.

(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)