Density dependence drives habitat production and survivorship of Acropora cervicornis used for restoration on a Caribbean coral reef
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Published source details
Ladd M.C., Shantz A.A., Nedimyer K. & Burkepile D.E. (2016) Density dependence drives habitat production and survivorship of Acropora cervicornis used for restoration on a Caribbean coral reef. Frontiers in Marine Science, 3.
Published source details Ladd M.C., Shantz A.A., Nedimyer K. & Burkepile D.E. (2016) Density dependence drives habitat production and survivorship of Acropora cervicornis used for restoration on a Caribbean coral reef. Frontiers in Marine Science, 3.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Transplant nursery-grown coral onto natural substrate Action Link |
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Transplant nursery-grown coral onto natural substrate
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2013–2014 at a coral reef site off Plantation Key, Florida, USA (Ladd et al. 2016) found that transplanting staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis fragments at lower density led to a higher survival rate compared to fragments transplanted at higher densities, but results for growth were mixed. Thirteen months after transplanting, fragment survival was higher in the 3 fragments/plot treatment (100%) compared to the 12-clumped/plot and 24/plot (both 58%) and higher in the 6/plot (84%), 12/plot (88%) and 12-clumped/plot compared to 24/plot. Daily growth rate (skeletal extension) did not vary between treatments until the final survey period when growth was higher for 12/plot fragments (0.82 cm/day) compared to 24/plot (0.44 cm/day). There was no difference in daily growth rate between 3 (0.67 cm/day), 6 (0.68 cm/day), and 12-clumped (0.82 cm/day) plots compared to 24/plot (0.44 cm/day). In May 2013, twenty-four 4 m2 plots were marked on a reef 5–7 m deep. Staghorn coral fragments (~85 cm long) were transplanted from a nearby nursery and attached to the substrate using marine epoxy in densities: 3/plot (0.75 corals/m2); 6/plot (1.5/m2); 12/plot (3/m2); 12-clumped/plot (12/m2); and 24/plot (6/m2). Fragments were evenly distributed within each plot except the 12-clumped which were placed within 1m2 inside the plot. Each plot had four replicates and an additional four plots were left without transplants as controls. Plots were surveyed in August and December 2013 and June 2014. Growth was measured as total skeletal extension (length, width, and height) of all fragments. Survival (% fragments alive) was recorded at each survey.
(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)
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