Study

Outplanting optimized: Developing a more efficient coral attachment technique using Portland cement

  • Published source details Unsworth J.D., Hesley D., D'Alessandro M. & Lirman D. (2021) Outplanting optimized: Developing a more efficient coral attachment technique using Portland cement. Restoration Ecology, 29, e13299.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Change transplant attachment method

Action Link
Coral Conservation

Transplant nursery-grown coral onto natural substrate

Action Link
Coral Conservation
  1. Change transplant attachment method

    A replicated, controlled study at a coral reef restoration site off Florida, USA (Unsworth et al. 2021) found that attaching staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis fragments to natural substrate using a range of concrete mixtures or epoxy resulted in similar survival compared to when nails and cable ties were used. Transplants using a range of cement mixes or epoxy found average tissue mortality of 2% (cement) or 0% (epoxy) after eight days, with no additional mortality after one month and recovery after five months. Comparisons of the best performing cement and nails and cable ties found similar tissue mortality across all methods (0–27% partial mortality, 0–13% full mortality). Divers were able to transplant around 11 corals/dive using cement compared to six corals/dive using nails and cable ties (result was not tested for statistical significance). A total of 225 coral fragments were used to compare cement mixes and epoxy. Five bases (8–10 cm diameter) were deployed for each mix, and three fragments were placed in each base. Survival was assessed after 8 days and then again at one and five months. A further 50 fragments were used to compare the best performing cement with the nail and cable tie method (25 fragments/method) and coral survival was assessed after one and four months. Costs Transplanting nursery grown coral in 2019 cost $0.05/coral when using cement, $0.47 when using epoxy and $0.50 using the nail and cable tie method. Costs included materials only and did not include any shipping costs for materials.

    (Summarised by: William Morgan)

  2. Transplant nursery-grown coral onto natural substrate

    A study in 2019 at a coral reef restoration site off Florida, USA (Unsworth et al. 2021) found that transplanting nursery-grown staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis onto natural substrate resulted in most surviving for at least four months, with no difference between methods of attachment. Tissue mortality was similar for corals transplanted using cement, or nails and cable ties (0–27% partial mortality, 0–13% full mortality). Transplants using a range of cement mixes or epoxy found average tissue mortality of 2% (cement) or 0% (epoxy) after eight days, with no additional mortality after one month and recovery after five months. Divers were able to transplant around 11 corals/dive using cement compared to six/dive using nails and cable ties (not tested for statistical significance). A total of 225 coral fragments were used to compare a range of cement mixes and epoxy. Five bases (8–10 cm diameter) were deployed for each mix, and three fragments were placed on each base. Survival was assessed after eight days and then again at one and five months. A further 50 fragments were used to compare the best performing cement with the nail and cable tie method (25 fragments/method) and coral survival was assessed after one and four months. Costs: Transplanting nursery grown coral in 2019 cost $0.05/coral when using cement, $0.47 when using epoxy and $0.50 using the nail and cable tie method. Costs included materials only and did not include any shipping costs for materials.

    (Summarised by: William Morgan)

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