11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

24.1080
Herbivory To The Rescue? Can Diadema Stimulate Grazing By Reef Fishes?
Brad BALDWIN* 1 , John WINKOWSKI 2 , Gabe SATALOFF 3
1 Biology, St. Lawrence University, canton, NY, 2 Biology, St. Lawrence University,
Canton, NY, 3 Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
Data on 7 inshore patch reefs around the island of San Salvador, Bahamas, confirm
macroalgal dominance. Abundance of herbivorous reef fish was indirectly correlated with
macroalgal cover and directly correlated that of coral. Parrotfish, surgeonfish, and certain
other fish were significantly more abundant, and showed higher feeding activity in
experimental plots cleared of fleshy macroalgae. Few Diadema are found on San
Salvador reefs but those transplanted to and caged on a patch reef (from inshore
populations) had significant grazing effects on macroalgae. Apparent preference of
Diadema for bare or turf substrate (inshore habitats) rather than substrate covered with
fleshy macroalgae (reefs) may not play as large a role in regulating natural distribution
since experiments did not indicate that Diadema favors either of these substrates. As an
alternative explanation, experiments on Diadema transplanted onto reefs suggest that
high mortality may currently restrict natural populations of Diadema to inshore habitats.
Although we had hoped to transplant Diadema onto patch reefs as a way to graze back
macroalgae and stimulate additional grazing by herbivorous fishes, high mortality on
Diadema will apparently limit this reef restoration approach.
24.1081
Effects Of Herbivorous Sea Urchins On Reef Algae: Algal Biomass Responses To
Caging Experiments
Lindsey PRECHT* 1
1 Sciences, American Heritage School, Miami Lakes, FL
On a shallow, hard-bottom reef area in the Florida Keys, four cages were deployed for
one week (seven day intervals). Pre-measured (50 g) assays of the macroalgae, Laurencia
obtusa were placed in each cage. The mesh cages served to keep natural reef herbivores
out of the experiment while providing a refuge from predation for the urchins released
within each cage. Cage #1 (treatment #1), had no sea urchins; this cage served as the
control for the experiment. In Cage #2 (treatment #2), two Diadema antillarum were
released. In Cage #3 (treatment #3), two Echinometra viridis were released. In Cage #4
(treatment #4), one Diadema and one Echinometra were released. All urchins used in the
study were approximately the same size (test diameter). At the end of each week, the
cages were opened and the remaining macroalgae within each cage was removed and
quantified. These one-week experiments were repeated for six weeks. The difference in
macroalgal biomass, represented by the remaining assay, was then subtracted from the
original assay amount. This calculation represents the total amount of algal assay
consumed by the sea urchins. By combining Diadema and Echinometra in a treatment
resulted in the consumption of the most macroalgae, this was followed by the Diadema
only treatment. The Echinometra only treatment consumed the least macroalgae. Based
on the amount of algae consumed in these caging experiments, there is tremendous
potential of using these urchin species as a tool for use in reef restoration projects in
south Florida.
Poster Mini-Symposium 24: Reef Restoration
24.1082
Longterm Monitoring And Overview Of Coral Propagation In Indonesia
Ofri JOHAN* 1 , Dr. SUHARSONO 2 , Dedi SOEDHARMA 3
1 Ministry of Marine and Fisheries, Research Center for Aquaculture, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia,
2 Indonesian Institute of Science, Research Center for Oceanography, Jakarta, Indonesia, 3 Bogor
Agriculture University, Marine and Fisheries Faculty, Bogor, Indonesia
Coral propagation has been carried out since 1999 on Pari Island, Seribu Islands, Indonesia and
since that time propagation has been done by several institutions in Indonesia. This study
focuses on coral propagation using fragmentation on artificial substrates placed on either the
leeward or windward sides of Pari Island, and in a lagoon area. The purpose of the study was to
assess the success of transplantation by measuring growth and mortality, attachment to the
substrate and the increase in the number of axial corallites after adaptation to a new
environment. Coral growth was recorded for 6 months post-transplantation for Acropora donei,
A. acuminata, and A. formosa on both sides of the island, and further monitoring was carried
out for 8 years on the leeward side. The Factorial-Completely Randomized method was used to
analyse the results. The research results showed that A. acuminata and A. formosa prefer a
leeward location, while A. donei prefers a windward location. The lagoon station had a higher
mortality of A. formosa (93.3%) and A. acuminata (86.7%) than at other stations due to low
visibility and the coral was bite by fish. A. acuminata (0.42 cm/mo) had a higher linear growth
rate than A. formosa (0.37 cm/mo) and A. donei (0.15 cm/mo), because A. acuminata and A.
formosa have arborescent growth form which was free from turf algae competition. Attachment
to various substrates and the increase in axial corallites was higher in A. donei than A.
acuminata and A. formosa. Monitoring after 4 years showed that Drupella sp. appeared to be
eating A. formosa, but not A. acuminata. Monitoring undertaken after 7 years discovered
broken Acropora formosa on the substrate and after 8 year most of A. acuminata was dead due
to impacted by Drupella sp.
24.1083
Coral Transplantation At Pari Island, Indonesia: A Case Study For Biodiversity
Protection And Reef Conservation Combined With Higher Education
Harry PALM 1 , Hawis MADDUPPA* 2 , Beginer SUBHAN 2 , Meutia SAMIRA ISMET 2 ,
Dolorosa BRIA 3
1 2
Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany, Marine Science and
Technology, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Bogor, Indonesia, 3 Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu &
Teknologi Kelautan Nusantara, Kupang, Indonesia
The island has been negatively affected, besides bomb fishing, by high pollution level, over
fishing, and human activities, such as commercial algae culture. Wastewater resulting from
algae processing and all kind of anthropogenic waste from the 600 inhabitants is directly
released into the lagoon. Coral transplantation is one of the methods to protect the coral reefs.
There have been several reasons stated to transplant living corals. This methodology can
accelerate reef recovery, replace corals that have been killed by sewage or other pollutants, or
aid the recovery of reefs influenced by destructive fishing (e.g. dynamite) or coral quarrying. A
weak human resource development in Indonesian universities and the lack of law enforcement
results in an urgent need to involve the island community to protect their coastal reefs. Coral
transplantation can serve such purposes by rehabilitating destructive reef areas, providing
potential alternative income for local people (labour, ornamental trade) and by serving as a
platform for students and education activities. The transplantation was carried out under water
with the help of SCUBA. For coral transplantation iron sticks with a concrete base where
prepared and fixed by hand into the rubble ground at the two sites. A total of 17 coral genera
were placed into the coral garden sites. For documentation of the new habitat by the reef fish
community, both transplantation sites were monitored by using the stationary visual census
method. Sampling site 1 showed an increase in fish species from 2 to 14 belonging to 5 families
within 7 month. Site 2 showed a constantly increasing diversity from 2 to 27 species belonging
to 7 families in 19 month.
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