11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

24.1055
Reduced Production Of Gametes in A.digitifera As A Result Of Transplantation To
A Stressed Reef
Jay ANDREW* 1 , Arius MEREP 1 , Geory MEREB 2 , Steven VICTOR 2
1 Research, Palau International Coral Reef Center, Palau, Palau, 2 Research, Palau
International Coral Reef Center, Koror, Palau
Soil runoff, resulting from poor land use practices, is affecting coastal marine habitats
around Babeldaob Island, Palau. To determine potential impact of sediment in the water
on coral growth and reproduction, we transplanted colonies of Acropora digitifera from a
site, Iou Lukes, that is far from land base sources of stress, to Airai Bay, a site that is
heavily impacted by sediment. Our data show that there was no significant effect of
sediment stress on growth, however, there was significant effect on reproduction. Only
14% (1 out of 7 colonies) of the corals transplanted to Airai Bay spawned. In addition we
collected naturally occurring A. digitifera from Airai Bay and only 57% of the colonies
spawned (4 out 7 colonies). In comparison, colonies that were collected from Iou Lukes
and transplanted back all spawned (7 of 7 colonies). The spawned eggs from colonies in
Iou Lukes were much healthier than eggs from colonies in Airai Bay. These data suggest
that when under stress, most energy is diverted to maintenance and growth and less
energy is expended on reproduction.
24.1056
Status Of Coral Reef Communities And Reef Restoration Efforts At Dongsha Atoll,
South China Sea
Tung-Yung FAN* 1 , Chieh WEI 2 , Lee-Shing FANG 3
1 Department of Biology, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung,
Taiwan, 2 Department of Biology, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium,
Checheng, Taiwan, 3 Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
In light of the World-wide decline in coral cover, there is intense interest in the potential
for reef restoration to accelerate the regrowth of scleractinian corals on denuded reefs.
The coral reefs surrounding Dongsha Island, South China Sea, were dominated by the
branching Acropora spp. and massive Porites spp., but severe thermal bleaching resulted
in mass mortality of Acropora spp. that created piles of coral rubble spreading over
several kilometers of reef surface in 1998. In 2007, the status of coral reefs at Dongsha
Atoll was assessed at 4 coastal reef and 2 lagoon sites using phototransect surveys, with
the objective of assessing the current status of the reef and designing an ecologically
appropriate reef restoration program. The percentage cover of turf algae and macroalgae
ranged from 48.0 to 92.3% at all 6 sites, and at 4 of the sites, coral cover ranged from
14.1 to 50.6% and consisted largely of the branching coral Porites cylindrica and the
foliaceous coral Echinopora lamelosa. At the 2 other sites, however, coral cover was <
3.1% and the reef was dominated by dead Acropora rubble with no sign of recovery.
Based on the current success of P. cylindrica and E. lamelosa, we inferred that they were
resistant to higher temperature, and therefore selected them for use in a reef restoration
effort designed to accelerate the recovery of corals at this remote atoll. During August
and October 2007, more than 100 corals from each species were transplanted to the 2
sites dominated by dead Acropora rubble using techniques that either attached the
fragments to the reef and rubble or left them scattered over the surface. Preliminary work
suggested that both techniques provided viable means to promote reef recovery. We plan
to compare the techniques in a large-scale trial of a reef recovery program.
Poster Mini-Symposium 24: Reef Restoration
24.1057
Growth-Rate And Survivorship Of acropora Formosa And stylophora Pistillata
Transplants in Tun Sakaran Marine Park (Tsmp), Sabah, Malaysia.
Azman B.A.R.* 1 , Nasrulhakim M. 2
1 Marine Ecosystem Research Centre (EKOMAR), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor,
Malaysia, 2 Tun Sakaran Marine Park (TSMP), Semporna, Malaysia
Branching hermatypic corals, Acropora formosa and Stylophora pistillata, were transplanted
into two areas of the Ribbon reef tract in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Tun Sakaran
Marine Park (TSMP). Sixty coral fragments were transplanted next to the parent colony. The
growth-rate of these corals was measured four times between August 2006 and August 2007.
The mean height of the fragments was 6.16cm (SD±3.12) ranging from 2.4-17.5cm at time of
the transplantation. Average growth-rate of all surviving fragments was 0.477cm per month.
Growth-rates between coral fragments, however, showed considerable variation. There was no
significant difference in growth rates between sites; however a slight difference was seen
between the two transplanted species. The mean survival of the coral fragments was 63.3%.
The microhabitat chosen for transplantation is critical and based on the results of this study, the
transplanting process is generally successful. The results suggest that the method may be used
as a commendable transplanting technique in MPAs for conservation effort.
24.1058
The Growth Rate Of Fragmented Acropora Formosa, A. Brueggemanni, And Euphylia
Ancora in Hurun Bay Of Lampung Province-Indonesia
Suryadi SAPUTRA* 1 , Endang WIDIASTUTI 2
1 Ministry of Marines and Fishery, Main Centre for Mariculture Development, Lampung
Selatan, Indonesia, 2 Biology, University of Lampung, B. Lampung-Lampung, Indonesia
Coral reefs have been greatly traded as part of ornament fish. Since the degradation of coral
reefs ecosystem in Indonesia has occurred in the last decade and if the trading corals collected
from their habitat rapidly grows, then these activities would increase degradation process of the
reefs. Therefore, some applicable technology for corals culture by fragmentation is necessary to
be established. The study was conducted in order to determine the growth rate of transplanted
coral fragments. Three different coral species were compared, two were branching corals
(Acropora formosa and A. brueggemanni) and one was a massive coral (Euphyllia ancora). For
Acropora species there were three treatments based on the number of branches, namely two,
three or four branches with 5 replicates, for the Euphyllia there were two treatments, with either
on or two polyps being transplanted, with 10 replicates. Completely randomized design was
applied for this matter. After acclimatization, the fragmented corals were placed in the open
water of Hurun Bay on 5-6 meter depth and observed for 150 days. The parameters of water
condition were determined, and mainly they were in the normal range for the coral growth. The
survival rate of A. formosa was 60%, A. brueggemanni was 80% and E. ancora was 100%. The
growth rates, which were measured on their width and length, indicated the increase in width
size was 0.14 – 2.02 cm/month for A. formosa and 0.11 – 0.71 cm/month for A. brueggemanni,
and 0.06 – 0.43 cm/month for E. ancora, while the increase in height of each fragmented corals
were 0.18 – 1.50 cm/month for A. formosa, 0.12 – 1.09 cm/month for A. brueggemanni, and
0.06 – 0.43 cm/month for E. ancora. Based on the survival and growth rates of transplanted
corals fragments, we concluded that the best growth of A. formosa was 2 branches fragment,
while A. brueggemanni was 4 branches fragment, and E. ancora was 2 polyps fragment.
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