Narrower grid structure of artificial reef enhances initial survival of in situ settled coral
-
Published source details
Suzuki G., Kai S., Yamashita H., Suzuki K., Iehisa Y. & Hayashibara T. (2011) Narrower grid structure of artificial reef enhances initial survival of in situ settled coral. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62, 2803-2812.
Published source details Suzuki G., Kai S., Yamashita H., Suzuki K., Iehisa Y. & Hayashibara T. (2011) Narrower grid structure of artificial reef enhances initial survival of in situ settled coral. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62, 2803-2812.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
|
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, randomized, before-and-after study in 2010 at an artificial nursery on two coral reefs off Ishigaki Island, Japan (Suzuki et al. 2011) found that 72 h after stony coral Acropora spp. larvae were deposited on artificial reefs there was higher settlement on reefs at 3.5 m than 2 m depth, but no difference related to grid size or plate arrangement, whereas after seven months there was higher survival on plates with narrower grids, but no difference related to plate arrangement or depth. After 72 h, more juvenile corals settled on settlement plates at 3.5 m (0.5–0.9 corals/cm2) than 2 m depth (0.1–0.2 corals/cm2). After seven months, survival was higher on plates with narrower grids than wider grids (average corals/plate: 2.5 cm grid = 52; two stacked 4 cm grids = 8; a single 4 cm grid = 1; 8 cm grid = 0). See original paper for non-statistically significant results. In February 2010, experimental plates (comprising fibreglass-reinforced plastic/polycarbonate) with different grid sizes were set up at two sites (one 2 m deep and one 3.5 m deep), and plates arranged to create different structures (see paper for designs) were also set up at the 3.5 m depth site. Plates were 50 cm2 with a grid size of 2.5 cm, 4 cm, two 4 cm plates stacked, or 8 cm (three replicates at each site). Different grid sizes and arrangements were placed randomly, >2 m apart. Mature stony coral colonies were collected from the reef and taken to an artificial nursery to spawn. Egg/sperm bundles were collected and placed into tanks to enable larvae to develop. Larvae were introduced to the plates four days later (see paper for methods). Coral spat were surveyed 72 h after larvae were introduced and survival was surveyed one, three, six and seven months later.
(Summarised by: Eleanor Bladon)
)_2023.JPG)
