PRU-V-99-002 C2

Coral Culture and Transplantation: Methods for Use in Coral Reef Restoration, Fisheries Enhancement, and Commercial Coral Aquaculture

Austin Borden -Kerby, Principal Investigator MPRD-3-102-1-98

1999

PRU-T- 99 !

UYIVERSjTY Or. PUERTO RICE RVSI-VPR,P.G. BOX 5OQQ AVAGUKZ,PUERTO RICO OGXCS-SCQO Progress rcport to l.he U»iversity of Puerto Rico Sea Grant Progr an>.

CoI.al Cuitur.e and Transplantation: Methods for Use in Coral ldeef Restoratiozz, Fisheries Enhancement, and Commercial Coral Aquaculture.

Austin Dowdcn-Kerby, Principal Investigator August 1999 i continue to focus on publishing data and follow-up of the newer sites and experiments. The reef restoration and coral aquaculture sites in Solomon islands were revisited in May '99, with a travel grant to the Solomons and Papua New Guinea supplied by CounterpartInternational. The SolomonIslands Development Trust sponsoreda community training on low-tech coral reef restoration and coral aquaculture in Malaita in May. From information gatheredduring the recent trip to thesecountries, a conservative estimate of 30-60 million kg of lime is calculated as being consumed each year, chewed with betel nut. Much of this lime is produced by killing and burning staghorn Anopora coral. Sites in this region are now focusing on replanting lagoonal areas denuded by the lime trade with staghorn corals and developing sustainable coral culture methods for the liine trade.

An new grant for US$10,800. was received from New Zealand this past May '99, for additional experimentaland community training sites in Fiji, and more follow-up in the Solomons. This grant was matchedby another $10,000., by CounterpartInternational in July, and again in August, another $10,800., plus $5,000. in-kind was donatedby the Fijian Shangri-LaResort, in support of community training and coral reef restorationin Cuvu Tikina, Nadroga, Fiji. The Cuvu reefs experienceda widespread freshwater kill this past January. There is a receptivity at the community level for conservation,restoring reef habitats,the establishmentof marine reserves,etc, and this activity is welcomedby the tourism industry. The plan is to establisha community- based inarine reserve around the existing resort, and to train the community in coral reef restorationand fisheriesmanagement, with coral aquaculturefor the aquarium trade as a project incentive. The reefs of this areapresent a good model applicableto fringing reefs of he region Samoa,Vanuatu, Solomons,etc,!. This site compliments other sites which mimic atoll-type conditionsof calm and sandylagoons, and the more challengingsilty mangrove-backedlagoon sites.

The Foundationfor the Peoplesof the South Pacific Internationalhas determinedto identify major funds .25 million US dollars! to be able to expandthe initial work into a five-year regional project, and a GEF conceptpaper is in the approval stageby the Fiji Goverrunent, for submission to UNDP, Other submissions include MacArthur Foundation,Packard Foundation, and NZODA. CounterpartInternational, the USA affiliate to FSPI, flew me to Washington DC in November '98 and April '99 to meet witii potential i'uiidirig sources, aiid for furtiicr discussions with NOAA, the State Department, and World iJank ofiicials.

The Fiji Minister oi'Agriculiure, Forests,and Fisheriesrecently appointedme to a specialtask force to study tlic controversialcoral tradesin Fiji. I have beenactive in raising awarcncssat ti>cgovernmental level of the negativeiinpact of thesetrades on Fiji's reefs. According to thc US Departmentof State, Fiji is currently the supplier of 81% of the worlds coral harvestby weight, I was visited last month by the US First Secretaryfor Political and EconomicAffairs from the US Embassyabout the trades,as the US is consideringa banon imports. I was interviewed by two newspapers,one local and two international; the Associated French Press, and the New Zealand Herald, Two radio interviews were aired during the past month on Radio New Zealandas well, one on the coral reef restoration project, and the other on the coral trades. I am working with two of the six coinpanieson sustainablemethods and standardsfor the industry. The rapidly expandinglive rock trade is a specialconcern that I am gathering new data on, seeking a sustainable solution to the current destruction.

I continue collaboratingwith IUCN in UK, The Cnidarian Foundationin LA, and with Andy Bruckncr of NQAA in DC on statisticsfor the coral trade into the USA from Fiji, themajor global importer/exporter. Several thousand corals have been sold by thewomen I trainedin MarauSound, Solomons to theaquarium industry in the VSA, andthe first culturedcorais for thebleached curio tradehave been harvested in Fiji, and will be sent oncea CITES exemptionis issued later this week! to "Just World I'rading", the marketingwing of UK-FSP,for a marketingstudy.

SinceJanuary, I presentedtwo papersand two postersat major conferences,at the InternationalConference on ScientificAspects of CoralReef Assessment, Monitoring, andRestoration NCRI!, Fort Lauderdale,April, 1999,and in Sydney,Australia, at the World AquacultureSociety meetings this pastMay, in the sessionentitled "Island and IndigenousAquaculture". The abstracts are enclosed. The paperI presentedat the ICRI conferencehas been accepted for publicationin theBulletin of MarineScience. l presented a paper entitled the "The Coral Gardens Initiative: Island communities planting coralsfar coral reef management,conservation, and resourcerestoration" at theUN-Funded!nternational Workshop on FisheriesManagement in Suva, Fiji, June 30-July2,1999. Threeabstracts have recently been accepted for oralpresentation at theWorld Aquaculture Society conference: Marine Ornarnentals '99, taking place in Novemberin Hawaii,and the papers are being prepared for publicationin the conferenceproceedings. University of HawaiiSea Grant is beingcontacted about potential funding to attendthe meetings.

In additionto presentationsat scientific meetings since January, I have presented slide showson coral reef restorationand sustainable coral aquaculture at SeaGrant in DC in April, at meetingsof FSPI in PapuaNew Guinea,twice at marine studiesclasses at the Universiiy ol the South Pacilic, in I iji, and eight times to traditional leadersand communitics arou»d I:iji.

I was involved in thc furmatio» of the "Low-Tech Action Group for Coral Reef Restoration", at the NCRI ineeti»gsin April. The vision statementof this group, has arousedmucli i»tcrcst and supportand is also attachedat the end of this report.

I» Puerto Rico, work disco»ii»ued o» restoration sites subsequent to Hurricane Georges in Septemberof last year. A collaborative study was begunin the months prior to that ti»ie, with Dr. David Dallantine, studied the extensive yet undescribed rhodolith beds rounded coralli»c algae cobb!es! that I discovered at several of my sites. These beds are ideal sites for coral culture, with high survival of fragments. We drafted a joint publication, which has now beenaccepted to the journal Coral Reefs. Counterpart Internationalis invesi.igatingthe applicationand extensionof the "Coral Gardens Initiative" into the Caribbean islands, and will be writing a proposal to this effect. The Coral Gardensconcept involves the establishmentof marine reserves,with the enhancement of coral cover and fish habitat within these reserves, so that the reserve recovers coral cover quickly, which in-turn begins impacting fisheries recovery and accelerating the process of positive change brought about by the reserves,

Co-investigator Antonio Ortiz has deployed several more "reef ball" structures in the past few months, and he continueshis work using thesestructures as foundationsfor coral transplants and for fisheries enhanceme»t. In September, 1998, during Hurricane Georges, the "reef balls" survived without damage or displacement.

I plan to return to my sites in Puerto Rico sometime in October or November, to hopefully defendmy dissertationat that time.

Abstract of paper presented at NCRI meeting, International conference on scientific aspectsof coral reef assessment,monitoring, and restoration, Fort Lauderdale. April, 1999, paper to be published in a special issue of Bulletin of Marine Science. The abstract was published in the proceedingsas The "Johnny Coral Seed"approach to coral ref restoration: newmethods appropriate for loiter energy areas. Title changed in responseto non-Americans not understanding American folklore.

LOW-TECH CORAL REEF RESTORATION METHODS MODELED AFTER NATURAL FRAGMENTATION PROCESSES

Austin Bowden-Kerby University of PuertoRico at Mayaguez

A low-cost and environmentally sustainable coral reef restoration method modeled after natural coral reef recovery processes and appropriate for use in developing countriesis described, This ine hod involves scatteringcoral fragmentsin lower energy back reef areasof unstablerubble substratewhere natural recovery processesare inhibited, using sustainablyobtained transplants. Experimentslocus on the post-fragn>entationprocesses important to coral reef recovery, quantilying sile-specific, species-specific,size-specific, and substrate-specific survival, growth, and self-attaclunentof coral fragments. Two coral specieswere used for the studies,Aciopora cervicornis and A. prolifera, with distinct morphotypesof eachspecies obiained from liigh and low energyenvironments. Coral fragmentsfroni axial and basal regions of colonies were tested to determine if senescenceaffects fragment survival. Resultsindicate that the mortality and growth of unattachedcoral fragmentsis strongly size, substrate,site, species,and morphotypedependent. Coral fragments from axial regionshave significantly lower mortality than fragmentsof similar size obtainedfrom inner colony portions. Back reef and reef front rnorphotypesof Acropora cervicornis grown togetherin the back reef for one year continuedto differ significantlyin branchdiameter, relative growth, and self-attachment ability, indicating a geneticbasis to morphology and adaptationto specific reef environments.

Abstractof paperpresented at the World AquacultureSociety meetings in Sydney this pastMay, in the sessionentitled "Island and indigenous aquaculture", abstract published in WorM Aquaculture 99.

CORAL AQUACULTURE BY PACII'IC ISLAND COMMUNITIES

W. Austin Bowden-Kerby The Coral 1

Coralaquaculture in SouthPacific Island communities has recently reached the levelof successfulproduction ie. thousandsaf coralcolonies!. This articlereports on growth trialsof scleractinianreef corals in the Caribbeanand South Pacific, and reports on coralaquaculture being carried out by coastalcominunities in Fiji andin theSolomon Islands. Coralsare being cultured for salein theaquarium and ornamental coral trades, for usein the productionof betellime, andfor enhancingcoral reef fisherieshabitat.

Coralsare being grown from 3-Scm fragments for theaquarium trade in six months, andfor theornamental coral trade and for limeproduction in ninemonths to twoyears. with highergrowth rates than predicted from the literatureand with low mortality, The reef-flat and lagoonalculture and transplantationmethods are describedin detail, and growth and mortality ratesare given. The deinand for stony reef corals is high, and this demand is being met almost exclusively by wild liarvcst, About four metric tons of corals per day are currently being removed froni tlic reel's of Fiji for the international trade in bleached ornamental corals. The aquarium trade removes several hundred thousand juvenile corals per year from South Pacilic reefs as well. Traditional coral harvesting in the Solomons and other islaiids, for tlic production of betel lime and for use as fill material, has had a major negative impact on many reef areas, and branching Acropora corals have been wiped-out froin extensive lagoonal areas. Branching corals are important shelter habitat, and coral harvesting has contributed to fisheries decline in these areas.

The "coral reef rehabilitation and sustainable marine farming project" focuses on the rehabilitation, protection, arid sustainablemanagement of coral reef resourcesby Pacific island coinmunities. Aii integral part of the project involves replacing the destructiveharvest of corals in project communitieswith a sustainablecoral aquaculture industry. The goals of the project are being accomplishedby working to establish community-based marine protected areas, developing local resource recovery plans, and by the introduction of siniple reef restorationand coral planting methodologies.Corals are being grown for replanting damaged reef areas and for enhancing reef fish habitat within marine reserves. Commercialcoral aquaculturefor the aquariumand ornamental coral trades, and for the production of betel lime is being introduced in project communities,and will help offset the initial economicburden of discontinuing the wild coral harvest, establishingno-fishing areas,and increasingfishing regulations The initial work lias demonstrated that communities and traditional leaders are responsive to the participatory methods, becoming more environmentally aware as they eagerly participate in tlie coral aquaculture and coral reef restoration and conservation aspects of the project. ANNOUNCING THE FORMATION OF:

THE LOW-TECH ACTION GROUP FOR CORAL REEF RESTORATION LTAG!

Purpose/Aim:

To develop and disseminale inexpensive, low-lech, coral reef resloralion and coral cover enhancemenlmethods appropriale for usein "thii d world" nalions undfor useby rural fishing comniunilies.

Rationalei

Some70'la of the planet'scoral reefsare ownedand controlledby rural fishing communities, not by national or state governments. These rural fishing communities arc primary stewards of the planet's coral reef biodiversity, and are a chief force of destruction as well. The future of coral reefsis very much in the handsof coastalvillage communities.but this facI.is under-recognizedby researchersand the internationalcommunity at present.

Most coral reef restorationresearch focuses on repairingdamage due to ship groundings,or attemptsto enhancethe recruitmentof coral larvae. While importantin situationsof the developedworld, thesemethods do not addressthe needsof most of the planet's coral reefs due to their high-techand expensivenature.

Many fishingcommunities are alreadyacutely aware that there is severeproblem witli decliningcoral reef resources,being directly impactedby overfishingand habitat destruction. Many of these communities are becoming increasingly receptive to understanding the reasonsfor fisheries demise/coral reef decline. In areas where destructive fishing methodshave been discontinued, the applicationof low-tech methodsto restorecoral reefswithin traditional fishing areasbecomes possible,

Foundingmembers:

ii i » . i i ki i T i d i I ii 0 * Helen Fox, USA working in Indonesiaand SouthEastAsia! h/et'a,socrales.hei/e/c i «/u Austin Bowden-Kerby working in Fiji, S, Pacific and Caribbean! hoi 2 / /

Those of similar researchfocus and concern,please join us! Pleasedirect inquiresto eachof the abovemembers.

Thefirst LTAG generalmeeting is tentativelyplanned to beassociated with theICRS meetingsin Bali, Indonesia,2000. Work of Co-Investigator, Antonio Ortiz Antonio presented a poster at the NCRI conference, and informed ine of his recent work with the reef ball experiment in Guanica and La Parguera. Antonio is actively involved and is making progress in the project.

From my earlier report, you should get an update directly from him: Concrete "reef ball" molds were obtained from the local NGO, Corallations, and with the assistanceof five students from UPR Aguadilla, Antonio Ortiz constructed four "reef balls". Three of thesewere deployedat three backreefsites in La Parguera. Thesestructures were planted with juvenile massivecorals Diploria, Montastrea, Calpophyllia!, and results indicatea very successfulmethod. A problems was encounteredin that the reef balls are considerablyheavier than expected00-700 pounds each!, and this problem needs to be solved if more of this reef ball work is to be carried out. Antonio has since beenconducting trials of transplantationmethods which affix Acropora palmata branchesin both erect and prone positionson smaller concrete framesbefore transplanting. Survival has beengood, and many survived the recent hurricane. Antonio is on a year of educationalleave from his job at UPR Aguadilla, and is focusedintensely on field work, and on writing his dissertationproposal. He plans to undergo new experimentsto study the natural population structure of A. palrnata,involving electrophoreticstudies with assistancefrom Dr. FernandoBird, a memberof his graduatecommittee. Understandingthe natural clonal structure and natural levels of coral diversity is important in restoring coral reefs following destruction. WORKING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND "GREEN" METHODS OF CORAL AQUACULTURE

Austin Bowden-V.erby The Cora! Gardens lniriarive, Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific P.O. Box 14447. Suva, Fiji 'islands bo~deni erbv h~suva.is.earn.f

Low-techfield culture methodsfor Scleractinianand other stony coralsfor the aquariumand curio coral trades have been tested successfully in Fiji. the Solomon Islands, and Puerto Rico. These trials have met with successin all locations, and are in the second phase of refinement. Commercial production of aquarium corals has been reached in Marau Sound, Solomons. and initial marketingtrials areproceeding from Kaba, Fiji. for both the aquaritimand curio coral trades. This paper provides the details of the culture methods as well as key characteristics essentialfor certification of cultured coralsas "green' products.

The -Coral Gardens" Method involves the low-tech culturing of small 2-3cm coral nubbins iiito coloniesof sufficient size for saleat six months generallya >500"10biomass increase!. Thc method involves planting coral fragments onto small concrete disks or bii alve shell bases. 'I'he fragmentsare not gluedonto the bases,but rely on naturalself-attachment and overgrowth processes. To hold the coral fragments securely to the basesso that self-attachment can occur. both are 'voven securelyonto wire meshwith 30 lb. test mono-fi]amentline. Simple "culture tables" are constructedto elevatethe plantedmesh frames over the substrate,made of bent iron barsheld togetherwith baling wire, of the type ICLARM usesfor Tridacnaclam culture. Initially coral nubbins are collected as seed from "mother colonies". corals located on the reef with desirablecharacteristics of color and form. The initial growth trials have identified coral strains genotypes!with superiorcharacteristics color, form. growth rates.survivability, etc.!. andthese colonies are being cultured into mothercolonies. to be usedin two-threeyears as coral seedsources, bypassing the need to rely heavily on wild harvested seed. Coralsgrown by the 'Coral Gardensmethod" are easily identifiableas properly culturedcorals by overgrowthonto a base,as well as by the presenceof deeplyingrown monofilamentline. 'I he suggestion by some that alizarin dye be used as an indicator, that corals have been cultured f'or a long enough period to qualify as aquacultured corals. is considered redundant. Personalexperience has shown that aquacultureof coralsdoes not guaranteesustainable or en' ironmentallybenign methods, In an effort to plant coralsas an income-generatingventure. the coral farming womenof Marau Soundplanted some 30,000 corals within threemonths of a singleworkshop, causing moderate reef damageat sei eral sites. Greenhouseculture of coi als in cold climatesburns fossil fuels and producesvolumes of Co, gas,and thereforeshould noi be considereda "green"practice. The exploitation of coral reef biodiversity by gi.eenhouseculture of coralsin developedcountries effectively bypassesthe indigenousowners of the parent material,and thus may be considereda violationof certainUN conventionson indigenousrights. The Coral GardenslniiiaIive encouragesa sustainableornamental industr> and involves indigenous communities in the culture of corals as an incentive to the establishment of marine reserves,low-tech coral reef restoration.and community-basedresource management plans CAN DESTRUCTIVE REEF FLAT MINING PRACTICES OF THE "LIVE ROCK" TRAM BE HARNESSED FOR BIODIVERSITY ENHANCEMENT AND CLIMATE CHANCE MITIGATION?

Austin Bowden-Kerb> Project Scientist, The Coral Gardens initiative. Foundationfor thc Peoplesof the SouthPacific P.O. Box I 4447, Suva, Fiji Islands buwdcnkerbv~asova.is.com,f

Fiji is the current leader in the "live rock" trade. with some 1.8 million kg exported in I 998 The methodsof live rock extractionrange from very bad to that of minimal impact. The worsecase scenarioand exceptionalexample of the live rock industry is the smashingof abundantIi» ing coralsto get to a baselayer of coralline algae-coveredrock. The second-vorse but widespread impactis the removalof importantdead coral shelterhabitat and physical attachmentstructure from the reef. The least-damagingremoval of "live rock' appearsto be from areasof the intertidal zonewhich experienceperiodic exposure,drying, and frequentfreshwater kills of organismssuch as corals, In this later case,tidal pools havebeen created by live rock mining., andthese pools show promiseas a habitatenhancemeni. measure. This study exploresthe potentialbeneficial effects of creatinga seriesof tidepoolsin Io»»biodiversity reef flat biotopes.

Modifications associated with the live rock harvest in the reef flat zone were studied at several sitesin Nadroga,Fiji. Tidepoolswere observedto be significantly more diversein both piant and animal life than the exposed reef flat rock, regardless of wheth.-r they were naturally or artificially created. However,for reef flats with a distinctalgal rim on the reef crest.which servesto entrain water on the reef flat during low, tide, the mining of live rock appear»io endangerthe wider reef flat area, as breaking the algal rim during mining can result in dra! nirig this entrainedintertidal v aterduring low tide, causingextensive drying of the reef flat and the mortality of organisms.

An additional factor, the ability of various types of reef fiats to slow wave-generated currents v»asstudied. Results using a flow meter indicate that a series of tide pools on the outer reef flat. servesas a baffling system,slowing wave-generatedcurrents.. The redirectionof reef flat mining for live rock, and the re-mining of tidepool depressionsonce the desiredcoralline algae regrowover the deadrock surfaces,would result in the deepeningof the tidepools.and could allow for the construction of a seriesof tidepoois on the outer reef fiat zone. These reef flat modificationscould potentially dissipatewaves and slov- wave-generatedcurrents. helping decreasebeach erosion during storms. The potential thus exists for the development of proceduresand methodsto channelthe live rock tradetowards specific reef flat modificationsas a v orkable climate change and storm wave mitigation measure, Presently the practices of the live rock trade by no means approach this standard. THE CORAL GARDENS 'INITIATIVE: CORAL AQUACULTURE AS AN INCENTIVE FOR COMMUNITY-BASED CORAL REEF CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION

Austin Bowden-Kerby ProjectScientist, Coral GardensInitiative Foundationfor the Peoplesof the SouthPacific. Fiji P,O, Box 14447, Suva. Fiji Islands [email protected]

Coral reefsare vital providersof protein-richfood for island corrununitiesand provide needed income in the form of fisheries and tourism resources. Unfortunately. coral reefs are rapidly decliningdue to increasingdevelopment pressures and negativehuman impacts.

Coral is the primary shelterhabitat for reef fish, thus a declinein coral cover resultsin a decline in reef fish. Coral cover is declining regionally, Fiji hasbecome the global leaderin the trade in corals.with over 80'/oof the global tradeby volume: live rock, curio corals,and aquariumcorals. Coral, live rock, and ornamental fish collection practices in Fiji are at present uninonitored, and rangefrom relatively minor to blatantly damagingin their impactsto the reefsof Fiji. The FSP Coral Gardens Initiative seeks sustainability for these industries based on the development of sustainableprocedures, community-based monitoring, resourcemanagement, and coral aquaculture as a realistic alternative to the destructive coral harvests.

The Coral Gardens initiative recognizes the important role fishing communities play as the primary stewardsof Pacific Island coral reef resources.The initiative combinesa consultative planningapproach with practicalaction, building upon the traditional knowledgebase of island fishing communities. Coal Gardens involves communities in environmental awareness.marine resource management,proven conservation and low-tech reef restoration techniques. and sustainable coral aquaculture as an income-generating project incentive, The overall objective of the project is the development and testing of a community-based marine resource management modelwith widespreadglobal applicability. Fiji was chosenas a testingground for the project basedon the importanceof the coral trades,the fact that Fiji is the regional leaderin tourism. as well as the fact that Fiji has all of the major reef types found in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific international is an experienced international network of non-government agencies, with metropolitan offices in the UK, USA and Australia. and with independent national affiliates in PNG, Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu,Tuvalu, and Samoa. The Fiji model will be appliedduring phasetwo of the project throughout this network. The project will focus oui community-based management and restoring coral reef health throughout the region. Various national focuses are envisioned as well, such as the replanting and aquaculture of staghorn corals in the Solomon islands and Papua New Guinea. harvested for the production of lime to chew with betel nut. In Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Tonga. the planting of new reefs on lagoonal sand flats for fisheries enhancementand for mitigation of the impact of sea level rise will be a special focus of the project. TRANSFORMATION OF "REEF BALL" STRUCTURE INTO LIVING CORAL HEADS

TRANSFORMATION OF ARTIFICIAL CONCRETE "REEF BALL" STRUCTURE INTO LIVING CORAL HEADS THROUGH THE USE OF IIIPLANTS OF JUVENILE MASSIVE CORALS

AntofUOL.Ortiz-Prosper, University of Puerto Rico, MayaguezCampus, Department of MarineScience, P.O. Box 908, Lajas,P.R.00667-0908, alortiz9t'ri hotmail corn

William Austin Bowden-Kerbyand Hector Ruiz Universityof PuertoRico, MayaguezCampus, Department of Marine Science,P.O. Box 908, Lajas,P R. 00667- 0908

OscarTirado, Alex Caban,Gerzon Sanchez, Juan C. Crespo, Universityof PuertoRico, Aguadilla Campus, Department of NaturalScience, P.O. Box 250160, Aguadilla, P.R. 00604-0160

Running head. TRANSFORMATION OF "REEF BALL" STRUCTURE INTO L1VING CORAL HEADS

Key Words:reef restoration,implants of massivecorals, reef balls, artificial reefs,back reef,

Potential reviewers: Hudson, J. Harold Resource Specialist, FKNMS, P.O. Box 1083, Key Largo, F.L. 33037 Phone 305-852-7717 Email: hhudsorrirr ocean nos.noaa ov

Spieler,Richard E. Professorof MarineBiology, MSUOC, 8000North OceanDrive, DaniaBeach, F L 33004 Phone: 954-920-1909 Email s ielerrrr'bocean.nova.edu

Hixo, Mark A Professor,Oregon State University, Dept. Zoology, Corvallis, 0 R. 97331-2914 Phone: 541-737-5364 Email: hixonmrrcbcc.orsr.edu

Sherman, Robin L. NSU OC, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, F.L. 33004 Phone; 354-920-1909

Schuhmacher,Helmut Professor,University of Essen/instituteof Ecology,Department of Hydrobiology, Essen, D-45117, Germany Phone' 201-1833777 Email: h,schuhmacher~riuni-essende TRANSFORMATIONOF"REEF BALL" STRUCTURE INTOLIVING CORAL HEADS

Abstract Implantsofmassive coralsover long lasting artificial reefs,like concrete reefballs acoral-tike dome!have proven to beuseful forthe restoration ordevelopment ofa smallpatch reef on back reefarea. Thepotential abilityof soine massivecoralsto spread overan artificial reefstructure canreduce thetime ofcolony development whileenhancing verticalstratification afcoral microhabitats. Threeconcrete "reefballs" were deployed atthree back reef sites inLa Parguera,southernPuerto Rico. These structures wereplanted withjuvenile massive corals < 20 cm diameter! of severalspecies Diploria happ.,Monrasrraea happ.,Colpophyliia spp.and Siderasrrea siderea!using marine cement. Deadcoral heads observed nearreefballs werealso planted withjuvenile massive corals.Jeopardized coral populationsfromshallow reefflat zones wereused asa sourcefortranspiants n=62colonies!. Overallsurvivorship ofcorals oneyear after transplantation was90lo 93lo for reefballs n=42!,85/o for dead coral heads n=20!!. In addition,coralcolonies overcame theimpairment ofthe wave action, whichoccurred duringHuiTicane Georges. Thesepreliminary resultsindicate a very successful ratefor the methodology employed.

TRANSFORMATIONOF "REEF BALL" STRUCTUREINTO LIVING CORAL HEADS

Thesewere transported in bucketswith seawaterto thetransplantatian sites. Most of thosecolonies collected have beenfound unattached over sandy bottom or coral rubble.

PIafIting corals Colonieswere attached tathe reefbaHs using underwater cement. Cement was prepared bymixing, five parts per volumeofPortland type I cementto 1 partof molding plaster. After mixing with enough water approximately 3 parts!,a smallball was applied immediately into thesmall holes created using Styrofoam on thereef baH, Once the cementwas in placethe colonywas affixedas soonas possibleta the reef ball. The samemethod was usedto aIIix coral colonies onto a dead coral structure.

Results Sixty-twocolonies were transplanted in the three study areas Tables 1 and2}. One year affer transplantation the overallsurvivorship of transplantedcorals in coloniesaffixed onto reef bails and colonies on deadcoral heads was 90t'o 93 /o for reef balls n=42!, 85'/o far dead cord heads n=20!!. These preliminary results indicate a very successfulratefor this methodology, alsoconsidering thatcoral colonies overcame thestorm surge wave action, whichoccurred during Humcane Gearges and widespread bleaching that occurred during this year, Theomission ofsilicate, which reduces the pH of the cement mix, did not restrict coral growth over the surface of the ball.Ten colonies representative ofeach species have been observed growing and spreading over the reef bail. Besides,we observed a recruitment of five coral species and other invertebrates overand within the reef baH Table 3!. Theinner part of the reefbalis are covered with encrusting sponges, bryazoans and same other organisms not reportedin the Table 3,

Discussion Oneof the major problems of past transplantation studies Birkeland et.ai, 1979; Clark and Edwards, 1995; Plucer-Rasaria andRandaH, 1987! is the loss of cordcolonies The preliminary results of this pilot study reflect that the methods used are efficientforcoral colony transplantation, sincenocolonies were lost. High survival ofcoral transphmts andthe stable substrateprovided byreefbaHs forlong periods oftime 0-15 years! wiH promote coral establishment andgrowth. Long termobservations of similar studies were conducted byHudson etal. 989!. They built a smaHpatch reef using 23 hollow concretedomes similar to reefbaHs!which were implanted with 32 hard corals of 10species. Ten years after inmersian the domeshowed no signs of deterioration andthe overaH survivorship was 87.5 4/o. Both Hudson et al, 989! andthe present studyindicate that this methodology haswidespread application potential farenhancing therecavery ofdamaged coral reefs andthe creation of smaHpatch reefs in suitableareas.

Anotherconsideration isthe collection ofcolonies fortransplantation andits effects annatural populations. Preliminary observationinPuerto Rico have identified numerous juvendes orsmail massive coral species recruiting toareas of extremelyshallow depths < 0.5m!, Long-termsurvival to adulthoodfor thesecolonies may be lessened in this shallow zone,many of these corals are unattached orweakly attached tothe substrate and could therefore betransported bystorm currentsta deepersandy areas. These jeopardized coral populations affer a potentialsource for transpiants.

Conclusion CurrentlyreefbaHs arebeing used to consttuct artificial reefs, it is surprising thatthese have not been implanted inorder to reducethe establishment timeof coral species. A possiblecause ofthis may be the companies Reef Ball, Inc.! suggestion thatreefbaHs have the capacity ta recruitcorals. After one year of observation,a total af 36hard coral colonies have recruitedon3 reefballs Table 3!. Hudsonetal. 989! reported 45 scleractinian coralscomprising 7 species and a totalof 89actocorals comprising 15species recruited inten years. Even though these structures are able to recruitcoral colonies thismethodology mayselect particular coralspecies and reduce time required fortheir successful establishment. Thismay alsobe of practicaluse in theestablishment of smaH patch reefs in areasunsuitable for coralrecruitment. Aelmowjedgeateats-Wewish ta thank Sea Grant College Program, University ofPuerto Rico, Mayagoez Campus{ MPRD-3-102-1-98! andCommittee Pohtics of AcademicResearch, University of PuertoRica at Aguadifia TRANSFORMATION OF "REEF BALL" STRUCTURE INTO LIVING CORAL HEADS for providingsupport for thisresearch. Also, we wish to thankM Scharerand E. Weilfor helpingwith this manuscriptand MaryAnn I.ucking for providing the Reefballs molds.

Literature Cited Alcala,A.C., E.D. Gomez and L.C. Alcala, 1982. Survival and growth of coraltransplants in Central Philippines. Kalikasanvol 11 !: 136-147.

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Tablel. Nutnberof coloniesof eachcoral species planted on eachreef ball at the start of the investigationand number of coloniesdead aAer one year.

Corals species Reef Ball at Reef Ba5 at Reef Ball at KnriqueReef Enrique Reef Mario Reef East! |West! planted dead planted dead planted dead Oiploria srrigosa 4 0 4 0 6 0 Diploria cli vosa 0 2 1 0 Oiplona labyri nrhiformis 0 3 1 5 0 Colpophyllia nararrs 2 0 4 0 1 0 Monrasrraea annulari s 1 0 3 1 3 0 Siderasrrea srderea 1 0 0 0 0 0 Total 10 0 18 3 16 0 TRANSFORMATION OF "REEF BALL" STRUCTIWE INTO LIVING CORAL HEADS

Table2, Numberof coloniesof eachcoral speciesplanted to deadcoral heads at two studysites at thestart of theinvestigation and those dead aAer one year.

Coralsspecies Enrique Reef Mario Reef %est planted dead planted dead

Oiplortastrigosa 1 4 Colpophyllia natans 4 2 l 2 0 Montastraea anntdaris 4 0 4 0 Total l0 2 lo l TRANSFORMATIONOF "REEF BALL" STRUCTUREINTO LIVING CORAL HEADS

Table3. Numberand classification of organismsrecruited on eachreef ball,

ObservedOrganism EnriqueReef EnriqneReef MarioReef East West Hard Carols Favia fragum 16 Colpophyllia sp. Porites astreoides 05 Agaricia sp. Diploria strigosa 2 2 Potycbaetes Spirobranchusgiganteus Crustaceans Panulirusargus Stenopushispidus Percnongi bbesi Kcbinoderms Di adema anti llarum Lytechinusvariegatus Echinometra lucunter Tn nicates Ascidia nigra 5 1 other 12 3 0 Total 44 16 34 TRANSFORMATIONOF "REEF BALL" STRUCTUREINTO LIVINGCORAL HEADS

Figure1. Mapof La Parguera,southern Puerto Rico. Numberindicate the back reef sites selected for thisstudy,