Genet and reef position effects in out-planting of nursery-grown Acropora cervicornis (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) in Montego Bay, Jamaica

Published source details Ross A.M. (2014) Genet and reef position effects in out-planting of nursery-grown Acropora cervicornis (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Revista de Biología Tropical, 62, 95-106.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Transplant nursery-grown coral onto natural substrate Action Link

Transplant nursery-grown coral onto natural substrate

A randomized, replicated study in 2007–2008 at two reef sites in Montego Bay, Jamaica (Ross 2014) found that transplanting nursery-grown staghorn Acropora cervicornis fragments at a shallower depth led to higher survival, and less decrease in length than fragments transplanted deeper. After 11 months, 28 of 36 (78%) transplanted at the shallow site had survived (8 were lost), and 7 of 29 (24%) transplanted at the deeper site survived (11 died, 11 were lost). Partial mortality (measured as a % live tissue loss and decrease in total length of live tissue) was lower for shallow fragments (47%, 2,5–13 m) than deeper (91% from 17–1.5 m). The average number of polyps/fragment was lower after 11 months (shallow: 7/fragment, deep: 6/fragment) compared to the start (shallow: 9/fragment, deep: 6/fragment) (data not statistically analysed). In September 2007, sixty-five staghorn fragments (5 cm) were selected at random from an established in-situ line nursery and each cable-tied to a nail driven into the rock or dead coral substrate 3–5 m or 12.5–14 m deep. Survival was recorded, growth (length of live tissue) measured and the number of polyps/fragment counted three times in the first four months then again after 11 months using scaled photographs.

(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)