11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

24-25
Development Of A Coral Nursery Program For The Threatened Coral Acropora
Cervicornis in Florida
James HERLAN* 1 , Diego LIRMAN 1
1 Marine Biology and Fisheries, University of Miami, Miami, FL
Acroporid corals were among the most abundant reef-building corals on Caribbean reefs
until a drastic decline resulted in losses of up to 95 % at many locations. This regional
decline prompted the listing of Acropora as ‘threatened’ under the U.S. Endangered
Species Act in 2006. In response to the need for localized efforts to protect and recover
surviving populations of staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, an underwater nursery
was established in Biscayne National Park, Florida. The goals of this nursery, one of four
such nurseries established in Florida, are to develop effective fragmentation and
propagation methodologies and to evaluate the role of genetics on coral resilience.
In June 2007, branch clippings (10 cm) were collected from A. cervicornis colonies and
fragmented into 3-7 cm sections that were glued onto cement bases in vertical and
horizontal orientation. The bases were glued onto cinder blocks and placed in the nursery
established at 6 m of depth. The fragmentation and transplantation methods used were
very efficient and resulted in limited fragment mortality;14 % of fragments died within
the first month, but subsequent mortality has been minimal.
The growth of fragments was influenced by time after transplantation, size, and
orientation. The growth rate of fragments was 0.6 cm/month during the first 6 weeks after
transplantation and increased to 0.9 cm/month in the subsequent 6 weeks. Growth was
positively related to initial fragment size, and fragments in horizontal position grew
significantly faster (0.9 cm/month) than fragments in vertical position (0.6 cm/month)
due to the ability of these fragments to grow from both ends. The fast growth of this
species makes it an ideal candidate for restoration programs and it is expected that the
staghorn fragments kept in Florida nurseries will provide an expanding coral stock to be
used in future reef restoration and scientific experiments.
24-26
Comparisons between Directly Transplanted and Nursery-reared Coral Fragments
in Bolinao, Northwestern Philippines
Dexter DELA CRUZ* 1 , Baruch RINKEVICH 2 , Edgardo GOMEZ 3 , Helen YAP 1
1 The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines,
2 Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography,
Haifa, Israel, 3 The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Quezon CIty,
Philippines
Direct transplantation is the current method of choice in reef restoration efforts
worldwide, though with varying degrees of success, probably due to the stress imposed
on the fragments or whole colonies used. The alternative method of rearing fragments in
coral nurseries located at sheltered reef zones is now used as an intermediate step with
the goal of producing robust transplants that will survive better than directly transplanted
fragments. These two methods are compared in field experiments in Bolinao,
northwestern Philippines using 2 common species, Echinopora lamellosa and Merulina
scabricula. The first experiment compares the survival of wild nubbins (~3-4 cm) that are
maintained in a field nursery versus similar fragments that are transplanted directly to
dead coral bommies. The second experiment compares the performance of nursery-reared
coral nubbins with that of similar-sized fragments (~5 cm) collected from the wild by
attaching both types of transplants to natural substrates. Survival was monitored monthly.
Three end points were selected, namely, 7 months after transplantation (normal
conditions), a month after the June 2007 bleaching event (elevated water temperature)
and 3 months after bleaching (post-bleaching recovery phase). Kaplan-Meier survival
analyses (employing Gehan’s-Wilcoxon pairwise test) showed that the three end points
yielded consistent results. There were significant differences between the two methods
for E. lamellosa in the first experiment, while there were no significant differences
between wild and nursery-grown corals for both species in the second experiment. These
results indicate that some species fare better when maintained in nurseries; however, this
advantage is not necessarily carried over after they are transplanted to natural substrates.
Oral Mini-Symposium 24: Reef Restoration
24-27
Use Of Aquacultured Coral Fragments For Restoration Activities in The Florida Keys:
Culture Techniques And Health Certification
Ilze BERZINS* 1 , Craig WATSON 2 , Roy YANONG 2 , Kathy KILGORE 2 , Casey COY 1 , Ryan
CZAJA 1 , Lauri MACLAUGHLIN 3 , Billy CAUSEY 3
1 The Florida Aquarium, Tampa, FL, 2 Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, University of Florida,
Ruskin, FL, 3 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Key West, FL
Many species of Atlantic Scleractinia can be fragmented and grown successfully in aquaculture
systems, but can they be reintroduced to the wild? This study addressed two primary questions
concerning the use of aquacultured fragments for restoration: 1) whether culture techniques
affect survival and growth of reintroduced fragments, and 2) could these fragments be a vector
for disease when returned to a restoration site?
Addressing the first question, 210 fragments were cut from 7 species (30 per species) of coral
collected from the Truman Annex site in Key West Harbor. The fragments (Siderastrea
radians, Solenastrea bournoni, Montastrea annularis, Montastrea cavernosa, Diploria clivosa,
Dichocoenia stokesii, and Stephanocoenia michellini) were distributed to two culture locations
and one open reef site. The land-based fragments were grown in culture for 7 months prior to
transplantation in the field. Transplantation of corals to Miss Beholden grounding site, Western
Sambo Reef, occurred in December, 2006. Monitoring of the site will follow 3 month intervals
for 2 more years.
To answer the second question, a standard best management practice was developed to ensure
that corals intended for reintroduction are healthy prior to restoration. These procedures and
other diagnostic methods were used to develop criteria for issuance of a federal health
certification before reintroduction of corals to restoration sites.
24-28
Genet Considerations in Acropora Cervicornis Propagation in Restoration
Andrew ROSS* 1
1 Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Coral restoration, propagation and gardening are concepts gaining interest and impetus in
research and backing in conservation, aesthetics and politics as the plight of corals gains
popular visibility, particularly in the specter of global climate change. In investigating
propagation it is important to understand the how choice of parent material influences final
outcomes. Significant differences in growth rate, branching morphology and resistance to
bleaching were recorded between genets of Acropora cervicornis propagated in buoyant-line
nurseries in Montego Bay, Jamaica in 2005 through 2007. In 2005 differences between genets
were noted in growth rate, branch number and overall branched growth rates. In 2006 final
length differences were noted between genets at all depths without differences within genets
between depths. Branch number and overall branching length were different between depths
however, with higher overall branching length and branch number at shallower depths. Strong
genet differences were also seen in susceptibility to bleaching at all depths. These patterns
continued through the 2007/8 experiments using ramets produced in the 2006 growth trials,
though bleaching was driven largely by re-fragmentation and nursery fouling organism contact
and stinging stresses. Although some level of adaptation or hardening to stress-related
bleaching was observed, genets with faster growth and branching were always relatively more
resistant to bleaching and associated death indicating generally stronger or weaker genets. It is
apparent that choice in genet for propagation must be carefully considered in any restoration
programme, particularly considering the monetary costs involved and the potential rarity of the
species concerned. Similarly, the long-term goals of any propagation programme must be
considered such as breadth of genetic differentiation for effective sexual reproduction or longterm
success through associated human gardening or other water quality and ecosystem
management programmes when choosing the genets invested in.
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