Comparison of coral growth and survival under enclosed, semi-natural conditions and in the field

Published source details Yap H.T. & Molina R.A. (2003) Comparison of coral growth and survival under enclosed, semi-natural conditions and in the field. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46, 858-864.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Cultivate corals in an ex-situ nursery Action Link
	Cultivate coral fragments in an artificial nursery located in a natural habitat Action Link

Cultivate corals in an ex-situ nursery

A replicated, randomized study in 1996–1998 at a laboratory and reef in Bolinao, Philippines (Yap & Molina 2003) found that ex-situ-cultivated fragments of stony coral Porites cylindrica and Porites rus survived and grew but less so than fragments in an in-situ (reef) nursery. After 19 months, survival rate was lower for laboratory-cultivated (P. cylindrica: 12%; P. rus: 0.5%) than reef-cultivated (P. cylindrica: 44%; P. rus: 42%) fragments. Weight gain was lower for ex-situ fragments of both species than transplanted (P. cylindrica: ex-situ 18 g, transplanted 78 g; P. rus: ex-situ 80 g, transplanted 165 g). In November 1996, sixty fragments each of P. cylindrica and P. rus were collected and transported to a marine laboratory, trimmed, and super-glued to acrylic plates. Thirty fragments from each species were randomly selected and transplanted to a sandy lagoon. Fragments from both species were distributed evenly across six 1-m² steel grids, 20 cm above the seabed. The remaining 60 fragments were similarly distributed on plastic grids in one of three seawater-filled plastic tanks in the laboratory. Mortality was recorded every two weeks. Growth was measured every two months for 19 months.

(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)
Cultivate coral fragments in an artificial nursery located in a natural habitat

A randomized, replicated study in 1996–1998 at a reef and an ex-situ marine laboratory in Bolinao, Philippines (Yap & Molina 2003) found that cultivating stony coral Porites cylindrica and Porites rus fragments in an artificial nursery in a natural habitat led to a higher survival rate and, for Porites cylindrica, a higher rate of growth than fragments cultivated in an ex-situ nursery. After nineteen months, survival rate was higher for fragments in the artificial nursery in natural habitat (P. cylindrica: 44%; P. rus: 42%) than ex-situ (P. cylindrica: 12%; P. rus: 0.5%). Average growth rate was higher for artificial, natural habitat nursery (0.8–3.75 g/30 days) than ex-situ P. cylindrica fragments (0.17–0.76 g/30 days). There was no statistical difference in growth rate for P. rus (natural habitat nursery: 3.5–8.5 g/30 days; ex-situ: 1.6–5.2). Actual growth was higher for natural habitat nursery than ex-situ fragments of both species (P. cylindrica: natural habitat nursery 78 g, ex-situ 18 g; P. rus: natural habitat nursery 165 g, ex-situ 80 g). In November 1996, sixty fragments each of P. cylindrica and P. rus were collected from wild colonies and transported to an ex-situ marine laboratory, trimmed, and attached to acrylic plates using cyanoacrylate glue (superglue). Thirty fragments from each species were combined and taken to a sandy lagoon. Fragments were distributed evenly across six 1 m² steel grids, 20 cm above the seabed. The remaining sixty fragments were similarly mixed and placed on plastic grids, but in one of three seawater-filled plastic tanks in the laboratory. Fragments were cleared of all fouling organisms and mortality was recorded every two weeks. Growth was measured every two months then extrapolated to determine growth/30 days.

(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)