out-planting

Testing the suitability of three locations for out-planting staghorn coral on Saba

Bachelor thesis research project

The previously dominant, reef-building Acropora cervicornis abundance decreased drastically across the greater Caribbean area since the 1970s. This is mainly due to the white band disease (WBD) and coral bleaching events. They have been considered a critically endangered species by the IUCN Red List since 2008 and restoration efforts are paramount to assist recovery of this species population. The exceptionally high growth rate and possibility of fragmenting this species, make it very suitable for coral gardening. This technique grows coral colonies from small fragments in ex- or in-situ coral nurseries before out-planting them into the natural reef. To test which locations are best suited for focusing future out-planting efforts, all previous out-planting trials have been analyzed to select three promising locations. In this research, two rebar frames have been installed at each of these locations. Per location, one frame was equipped with 20 fragments of the genotype ‘HiC’ and the other one with 20 fragments of the genotype ‘LL’. For the following 70 days fragment health, survival, growth rates, sediment settlement, and turbidity have been measured biweekly. The growth rates at location ‘Nursery’ and ‘Big Rock Market’ did not differ, however, at location ‘Hole in the Corner’ the genotype HiC had a significantly higher growth rate compared to the other locations and genotypes. The high amount and variation of turbidity and sedimentation at the Nursery make this location unsuitable for out-planting efforts. Sedimentation at Big Rock Market was exceptionally low and consistent, which could benefit out-planting efforts, but faster growth rates at Hole in the Corner will yield more coral. Because the locations are approximately 1.5km apart and both are considered suitable, it is recommended to outplant at and in between both locations instead of focusing out-planting efforts on one location, in order to increase the resilience of the out-planting efforts against natural stressors such as new outbreaks of the WBD.

Date
2022
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Saba
Author