How quickly do fragments of coral self-attach after transplantation?

Published source details Guest J.R., Dizon R.M., Edwards A.J., Franco C. & Gomez E.D. (2011) How quickly do fragments of coral self-attach after transplantation?. Restoration Ecology, 19, 234-242.
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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
	Cultivate coral fragments in an artificial nursery located in a natural habitat Action Link

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

A replicated study in 2005–2006 at an artificial nursery off Silaqui Island, Phillipines, (Guest et al. 2011) found that cultivating fragments of wild-grown stony and blue coral on giant clam shells attached to a pvc frame resulted in variations in attachment time and survival rates depending on species and fragment size. Acropora muricata fragments were quickest to attach to the substrate (average time: large fragments 31 days, small fragments 39 days) and Echinopora lamellosa fragments were slowest (average time: large >250 days, small 167 days). Survival rate after seven months was lowest for Acropora muricata (80 – 88%) compared to 100% for Heliopora coerulea, Montipora digitata, Hydnophora rigida, Porites cylindrica, Porites rus, Pocillopora damicornis. In December 2005–January 2006, fifty small (average diameter 27 mm) and 50 large (average diameter 60 mm) fragments of 10 stony (see paper for full list) and one blue Heliopora coerulea coral were collected from reefs near the study site. Fragments (one/species) were attached to giant clam Tridacna gigas shells (small: 11 fragments/shell, large: 11 fragments/two shells) using epoxy clay. Shells were fixed to a pvc frame 0.5 m above the seabed 2.9–3.4 m deep at five sites 50–220 m apart. Attachment (measured as the percentage of coral tissue attached to the substrate or the number of secondary attachment points) was recorded after one month then every two weeks for seven months.

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

A replicated study in 2007 at an artificialnursery off Silaqui Island, Phillipines, (Guest et al. 2011) found that cultivating fragments of wild-grown stony corals Acropora huacinthus and Acropora digitifera on on giant clam shells attached to a pvc frame led to a faster attachment time than cultivated fragments of Acropora muricata. After seven days, fragments of Acropora huacinthus and Acropora digitifera had started attaching to the substrate whereas Acropora muricata took 10 days. More than 50% of Acropora huacinthus and Acropora digitifera fragments had fully attached to the substrate after 16 days compared to 24 days for Acropora muricata fragments. After 34 days, all Acropora huacinthus and Acropora digitifera fragments had fully attached to the substrate compared to 35/50 (70%) of Acropora muricata fragments. In April 2007, 50 fragments (average diameter 34 mm) were taken from 25 colonies each of Acropora huancinthus, Acropora digitifera, and Acropora muricata (two fragments/colony). Fragments were attached to 50 empty giant clam Tridacna gigas shells (one fragment from each species/shell) using epoxy clay. Shells were fixed to a pvc frame 0.5 m above the seabed 2.9–3.4 m deep at five sites 50–220 m apart (10 shells/site). Attachment (% of fragment attached and the time taken for fragments to fully attach) was recorded every 3 or 4 days for 34 days.

(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)