Growth and Survival of Acropora Cervicornis

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Growth and Survival of Acropora Cervicornis GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF TRANSPLANTED ACROPORA CERVICORNIS IN RELATION TO CORAL REEF RESTORATION by GEOFFREY CLAYTON CHILCOAT (Under the Direction of William K. Fitt) ABSTRACT Acropora cervicornis fragments were transplanted seasonally (every 3 months) near Key Largo, Florida (patch reef-Admiral Reef and fore reef-Little Grecian Reef) and Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas (patch reef) in order to determine the relationship between the size of the fragment, seasonal growth rate, and survival for the possibility of restoration of this species through transplantation. Mass per unit length per day (g/mm/d), the total mass accretion per length extension (g/mm), and the linear extension per day and buoyant weight per day was calculated for each fragment. The number of branches generated from each fragment was recorded. These parameters will be compared between the two sites in Florida and between the Bahamas site and Florida sites. The recovery rates of scientifically produced scars or lesions were investigated in the Caribbean reef coral Montastrea faveolata. Artificial lesions on Montastrea faveolata filled with epoxy took approximately twice the recovery time as those allowed to recovery without the use of filler compounds; however differences in growth rates were only seen in the first three months. INDEX WORDS: Acropora cervicornis, Acropora prolifera, Growth rates, Survival, Transplantation, Regeneration, Calcification, Recovery, Montastrea faveoloata GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF TRANSPLANTED ACROPORA CERVICORNIS IN RELATION TO CORAL REEF RESTORATION by GEOFFREY CLAYTON CHILCOAT Bachelors of Forest Resources, The University of Georgia, 1997 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF SCIENCE ATHENS, GEORGIA 2004 © 2004 Geoffrey Clayton Chilcoat All Rights Reserved GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF TRANSPLANTED ACROPORA CERVICORNIS IN RELATION TO CORAL REEF RESTORATION by GEOFFREY CLAYTON CHILCOAT Major Professor: William K. Fitt Committee: James Porter Karen Porter Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia August 2004 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The work was funded by the National Undersea Research Program (UNCW in Key Largo, Florida and the Caribbean Marine Research Center on Lee Stocking Island in the Bahamas) and the National Science Foundation (9203327,9702032,9906976). We would like to thank Dr. Steve Miller, Otto Rutten, Mike Birns and others, for continued logistical support from the NURC/UNCW Day-boat Program in Key Largo. Drs. John Marr, Tom Bailey, Steve Jury, as well as Brian Kakuk, Jeremy, Ester, both Kerleens, and Craig and Tara Dahlgren of CMRC Lee Stocking Island Bahamas. Thanks to Dan Thornhill, Mark Warner, Todd LaJuenesse, Tom Shannon, Nathan Jess, and Peter Anziano for field assistance. Permitting in the United States thanks to Harold Hudson, John Hallace and others from NOAA Florida Keys. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1 References .................................................................................................................5 2 SEASONAL BRANCHING PATTERNS IN TRANSPLANTED REEF-BUILDING CORALS ACROPORA CERVICORNIS AND ACROPORA PROLIFERA..............7 Abstract .....................................................................................................................8 Introduction ...............................................................................................................9 Methods...................................................................................................................10 Results .....................................................................................................................12 Discussion ...............................................................................................................15 Acknowlegdments ...................................................................................................17 References ...............................................................................................................18 3 EFFECT OF SEASON AND CORAL SIZE ON THE GROWTH RATE OF TRANSPLANTED ACROPORA CERVICORNIS..................................................43 Abstract ...................................................................................................................44 Introduction .............................................................................................................45 Methods...................................................................................................................48 Results .....................................................................................................................50 v Discussion ...............................................................................................................52 References ...............................................................................................................56 4 EFFECT OF SEASON AND CORAL SIZE ON THE SURVIVAL OF TRANSPLANTED ACROPORA CERVICORNIS..................................................71 Abstract ...................................................................................................................72 Introduction .............................................................................................................73 Methods...................................................................................................................74 Results .....................................................................................................................76 Discussion ...............................................................................................................77 References ...............................................................................................................79 5 SCIENTIFICALLY PRODUCED LESIONS IN REEF CORALS: SCARRED FOR LIFE?.......................................................................................................................86 Abstract ...................................................................................................................87 Introduction .............................................................................................................88 Methods...................................................................................................................89 Results .....................................................................................................................90 Discussion ...............................................................................................................91 References ...............................................................................................................94 vi LIST OF TABLES Page Table 3.1: Original Transplant Size v. growth Length (mm) p=.05 significance..........................69 Table 3.2: Original Transplant Size v. Weight Growth (grams) p=.05 significance.....................69 Table 5.1: Percent recovery of the epoxy-filled lesion from the initial damage (Bahamas). ........95 Table 5.2.: Percent recovery of the control lesions from the initial damage (Bahamas)...............96 vii LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 2.1a: All Sites Bahamas (LSI) and Florida (Admiral and Little Grecian Reef), A cervicornis, Average new branches added since previous sampling period..............19 Figure 2.1b: All Sites Bahamas (LSI) and Florida (Admiral and Little Grecian Reef), A. cervicornis, Total branches since initial transplantation...........................................19 Figure 2.2: All Sites Bahamas (LSI) and Florida (Admiral and Little Grecian Reefs) A. cervicornis, A. prolifera Average new branches per day since previous sampling period.............................................................................................................................20 Figure 2.3: Total Branches Since Initial Transplantation Bahamas (LSI) (A. cervicornis, A.prolifera) Little Grecian Reef (LG) and Admiral Reef (ADM), Florida (A. cervicornis)....................................................................................................................20 Figure 2.4(a-i): ADM AUG 1999, A. cervicornis Original transplant size (length) v new branches since previous sampling period .....................................................................................21 Figure 2.5(a-i): ADM AUG 1999, A. cervicornis Original transplant size v total branches.........22 Figure 2.6(a-h): ADM Nov 1999, A. cervicornis Original transplant size (length) v new branches since previous sampling period .....................................................................................23 Figure 2.7(a-h): ADM Nov 1999, A. cervicornis Original transplant size (length) v. total branches.........................................................................................................................24 Figure 2.8(a-g): ADM March 2000, A.
Recommended publications
  • High Clonality in Acropora Palmata and Acropora Cervicornis Populations of Guadeloupe, French Lesser Antilles
    CSIRO PUBLISHING Marine and Freshwater Research Short Communication http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/MF14181 High clonality in Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis populations of Guadeloupe, French Lesser Antilles A. JapaudA, C. BouchonA, J.-L. ManceauA and C. FauvelotB,C AUMR 7208 BOREA, LabEx CORAIL, Universite´ des Antilles et de la Guyane, BP 592, 97159 Pointe-a`-Pitre, Guadeloupe. BUMR 9220 ENTROPIE, LabEx CORAIL, Centre IRD de Noume´a, 101 Promenade Roger Laroque, BPA5, 98848 Noume´a, New Caledonia. CCorresponding author. Email: [email protected] Abstract. Since the 1980s, population densities of Acroporidae have dramatically declined in the Caribbean Sea. Quantitative censuses of Acroporidae provide information on the number of colonies (i.e. ramets), but not on the number of genetically distinct individuals (i.e. genets). In this context, the aim of our study was to provide an overview of the genetic status of Acropora populations in Guadeloupe by examining the genotypic richness of Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis. Using 14 microsatellite loci, we found extremely low genotypic richness for both species from Caye-a`-Dupont reef (i.e. 0.125 for A. palmata and nearly zero for A. cervicornis). Because genetic diversity contributes to the ability of organisms to evolve and adapt to new environmental conditions, our results are alarming in the context of ongoing global warming as long periods of clonal growth without sexual recruitment may lead to the extinction of these populations. Additional keywords: genotypic richness, Acroporidae, microsatellites, Caribbean Sea. Received 27 June 2014, accepted 5 November 2014, published online 19 March 2015 Introduction censuses of acroporid densities report on the number of ramets Stony corals of the Acroporidae (Class Anthozoa, Order Scler- (i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • Taxonomic Checklist of CITES Listed Coral Species Part II
    CoP16 Doc. 43.1 (Rev. 1) Annex 5.2 (English only / Únicamente en inglés / Seulement en anglais) Taxonomic Checklist of CITES listed Coral Species Part II CORAL SPECIES AND SYNONYMS CURRENTLY RECOGNIZED IN THE UNEP‐WCMC DATABASE 1. Scleractinia families Family Name Accepted Name Species Author Nomenclature Reference Synonyms ACROPORIDAE Acropora abrolhosensis Veron, 1985 Veron (2000) Madrepora crassa Milne Edwards & Haime, 1860; ACROPORIDAE Acropora abrotanoides (Lamarck, 1816) Veron (2000) Madrepora abrotanoides Lamarck, 1816; Acropora mangarevensis Vaughan, 1906 ACROPORIDAE Acropora aculeus (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Madrepora aculeus Dana, 1846 Madrepora acuminata Verrill, 1864; Madrepora diffusa ACROPORIDAE Acropora acuminata (Verrill, 1864) Veron (2000) Verrill, 1864; Acropora diffusa (Verrill, 1864); Madrepora nigra Brook, 1892 ACROPORIDAE Acropora akajimensis Veron, 1990 Veron (2000) Madrepora coronata Brook, 1892; Madrepora ACROPORIDAE Acropora anthocercis (Brook, 1893) Veron (2000) anthocercis Brook, 1893 ACROPORIDAE Acropora arabensis Hodgson & Carpenter, 1995 Veron (2000) Madrepora aspera Dana, 1846; Acropora cribripora (Dana, 1846); Madrepora cribripora Dana, 1846; Acropora manni (Quelch, 1886); Madrepora manni ACROPORIDAE Acropora aspera (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Quelch, 1886; Acropora hebes (Dana, 1846); Madrepora hebes Dana, 1846; Acropora yaeyamaensis Eguchi & Shirai, 1977 ACROPORIDAE Acropora austera (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Madrepora austera Dana, 1846 ACROPORIDAE Acropora awi Wallace & Wolstenholme, 1998 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora azurea Veron & Wallace, 1984 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora batunai Wallace, 1997 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora bifurcata Nemenzo, 1971 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora branchi Riegl, 1995 Veron (2000) Madrepora brueggemanni Brook, 1891; Isopora ACROPORIDAE Acropora brueggemanni (Brook, 1891) Veron (2000) brueggemanni (Brook, 1891) ACROPORIDAE Acropora bushyensis Veron & Wallace, 1984 Veron (2000) Acropora fasciculare Latypov, 1992 ACROPORIDAE Acropora cardenae Wells, 1985 Veron (2000) CoP16 Doc.
    [Show full text]
  • Scleractinian Reef Corals: Identification Notes
    SCLERACTINIAN REEF CORALS: IDENTIFICATION NOTES By JACKIE WOLSTENHOLME James Cook University AUGUST 2004 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.24656.51205 http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24656.51205 Scleractinian Reef Corals: Identification Notes by Jackie Wolstenholme is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................ i INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 1 ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................. 2 FAMILY ACROPORIDAE.................................................................................................................................... 3 Montipora ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 Massive/thick plates/encrusting & tuberculae/papillae ................................................................................... 3 Montipora monasteriata .............................................................................................................................. 3 Massive/thick plates/encrusting & papillae ...................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Pleistocene Reefs of the Egyptian Red Sea: Environmental Change and Community Persistence
    Pleistocene reefs of the Egyptian Red Sea: environmental change and community persistence Lorraine R. Casazza School of Science and Engineering, Al Akhawayn University, Ifrane, Morocco ABSTRACT The fossil record of Red Sea fringing reefs provides an opportunity to study the history of coral-reef survival and recovery in the context of extreme environmental change. The Middle Pleistocene, the Late Pleistocene, and modern reefs represent three periods of reef growth separated by glacial low stands during which conditions became difficult for symbiotic reef fauna. Coral diversity and paleoenvironments of eight Middle and Late Pleistocene fossil terraces are described and characterized here. Pleistocene reef zones closely resemble reef zones of the modern Red Sea. All but one species identified from Middle and Late Pleistocene outcrops are also found on modern Red Sea reefs despite the possible extinction of most coral over two-thirds of the Red Sea basin during glacial low stands. Refugia in the Gulf of Aqaba and southern Red Sea may have allowed for the persistence of coral communities across glaciation events. Stability of coral communities across these extreme climate events indicates that even small populations of survivors can repopulate large areas given appropriate water conditions and time. Subjects Biodiversity, Biogeography, Ecology, Marine Biology, Paleontology Keywords Coral reefs, Egypt, Climate change, Fossil reefs, Scleractinia, Cenozoic, Western Indian Ocean Submitted 23 September 2016 INTRODUCTION Accepted 2 June 2017 Coral reefs worldwide are threatened by habitat degradation due to coastal development, 28 June 2017 Published pollution run-off from land, destructive fishing practices, and rising ocean temperature Corresponding author and acidification resulting from anthropogenic climate change (Wilkinson, 2008; Lorraine R.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 2. Animals
    AC20 Doc. 8.5 Annex (English only/Seulement en anglais/Únicamente en inglés) REVIEW OF SIGNIFICANT TRADE ANALYSIS OF TRADE TRENDS WITH NOTES ON THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF SELECTED SPECIES Volume 2. Animals Prepared for the CITES Animals Committee, CITES Secretariat by the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre JANUARY 2004 AC20 Doc. 8.5 – p. 3 Prepared and produced by: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK UNEP WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE (UNEP-WCMC) www.unep-wcmc.org The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre is the biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm of the United Nations Environment Programme, the world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental organisation. UNEP-WCMC aims to help decision-makers recognise the value of biodiversity to people everywhere, and to apply this knowledge to all that they do. The Centre’s challenge is to transform complex data into policy-relevant information, to build tools and systems for analysis and integration, and to support the needs of nations and the international community as they engage in joint programmes of action. UNEP-WCMC provides objective, scientifically rigorous products and services that include ecosystem assessments, support for implementation of environmental agreements, regional and global biodiversity information, research on threats and impacts, and development of future scenarios for the living world. Prepared for: The CITES Secretariat, Geneva A contribution to UNEP - The United Nations Environment Programme Printed by: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK © Copyright: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre/CITES Secretariat The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or contributory organisations.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Corals Supplemental Information Report
    Supplemental Information Report on Status Review Report And Draft Management Report For 82 Coral Candidate Species November 2012 Southeast and Pacific Islands Regional Offices National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Department of Commerce Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Methods .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS RECEIVED ...................................................................................................... 3 SRR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... 4 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 4 2. General Background on Corals and Coral Reefs .................................................................................... 4 2.1 Taxonomy & Distribution .............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Scleractinia Fauna of Taiwan I
    Scleractinia Fauna of Taiwan I. The Complex Group 台灣石珊瑚誌 I. 複雜類群 Chang-feng Dai and Sharon Horng Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University Published by National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, Taiwan Table of Contents Scleractinia Fauna of Taiwan ................................................................................................1 General Introduction ........................................................................................................1 Historical Review .............................................................................................................1 Basics for Coral Taxonomy ..............................................................................................4 Taxonomic Framework and Phylogeny ........................................................................... 9 Family Acroporidae ............................................................................................................ 15 Montipora ...................................................................................................................... 17 Acropora ........................................................................................................................ 47 Anacropora .................................................................................................................... 95 Isopora ...........................................................................................................................96 Astreopora ......................................................................................................................99
    [Show full text]
  • First Records for Spawning of Caribbean Acropora Species in Colombian Mpas
    Gulf and Caribbean Research Volume 31 Issue 1 2020 First Records for Spawning of Caribbean Acropora Species in Colombian MPAs David M. Hudson The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, [email protected] Barrett L. Christie The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, [email protected] Luis A. Gómez-Lemos Universidad del Magdalena, [email protected] Camilo Valcarcel Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, [email protected] See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/gcr Part of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Other Animal Sciences Commons, and the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation Hudson, D. M., B. L. Christie, L. A. Gómez-Lemos, C. Valcarcel, D. Duque, J. C. Zárate Arévalo, J. Rojas, O. Reyes, M. Marrugo, M. Rosa, I. A. Caicedo Torrado, D. Tarazona and C. Zuluaga. 2020. First Records for Spawning of Caribbean Acropora Species in Colombian MPAs. Gulf and Caribbean Research 31 (1): SC18-SC24. Retrieved from https://aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol31/iss1/10 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18785/gcr.3101.10 This Short Communication is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf and Caribbean Research by an authorized editor of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. First Records for Spawning of Caribbean Acropora Species in Colombian MPAs Authors David M. Hudson, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk; Barrett L. Christie, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk; Luis A. Gómez-Lemos, Universidad del Magdalena; Camilo Valcarcel, Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia; Diego Duque, Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia; Juan C.
    [Show full text]
  • Summary Output
    AC29 Doc. 13.3 Annex 1 Summary output To comply with paragraph 1 a) of Resolution Conf. 12.8 (Rev. CoP17), a summary output of trade in wild-sourced specimens was produced from data extracted from the CITES Trade Database on 26th April 2017. An excel version of the data output is also available (see AC29 Doc Inf. 4), which details the trade levels for each individual country with direct exports over the five most recent years (2011-2015). Table 1. Data included for the summary output of ‘wild-sourced’ trade Data included CITES Trade Database Gross exports; report type Direct trade only (re-exports are excluded) Current Appendix Appendix II taxa and Appendix I taxa subject to reservation Source codes1 Wild (‘W’), ranched (‘R’), unknown (‘U’) and no reported source (‘-’) Purpose codes1 All Terms included Selected terms2: baleen, bodies, bones, carapaces, carvings, cloth, eggs, egg (live), fins, gall and gall bladders, horns and horn pieces, ivory pieces, ivory carvings, live, meat, musk (including derivatives for Moschus moschiferus), plates, raw corals, scales, shells, skin pieces, skins, skeletons, skulls, teeth, trophies, and tusks. Units of measure Number (unit = blank) and weight (unit = kilogram3) [Trade in other units of measure (e.g. litres, metres etc.) were excluded] Year range 2011-20154 Contextual The global conservation status and population trend of the species as published information in The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; Whether the species/country combination was subject to the Review of Significant Trade process for the last three iterations (post CoP14, post CoP15 and post CoP16); Whether the taxon was reported in trade for the first time within the CITES Trade Database since 2012 (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Search Bullet No
    SEARCH BULLET NO. 236 ashineon, D.C., U.S.A. November 1979 I Poior t Md,tiniq"Q - CARI88EAN g o i 5r LvuajJ =& 8' SEA v'"i'"r? aJ,bdd-,D The White Horra , VENEZUELA - Jort Vai Gwat rcbw '& .; ",& THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Scale of Mlles III I d I bog Rod Heights In Feet SOME ASPECTS OF THE ECOLOGY OF REEFS SURROUNDING ANEGADA, BRITISH VIRGIIY ISLANDS 1. 2. by R.P. Dunne and B.E. Brown Introductory Description Anegada is a most unique island from many aspects. Northernmost of the American and British Virgin Islands and easternmost of the Greater Antilles, it is a flat limestone island, 17 km long and 4 km wide with a total area of about 14.94 square miles (9,567 acres 54 sq km), It is set aside from the other British Virgin Islands, being some 19 km from Virgin Gorda, its closest neighbour. It lies in distinct contrast to the volcanic and mountainous landscapes of the Virgin Group, with a maximum elevation of only 8 metres, To the north and east (windward side) the island is edged by extensive reefs beyond which stretches the Atlantic Ocean. On the leeward side, a shallow sea (2 to 8 m) separates Anegada from the main Virgin Island Group. His tory Schmburgk (1832) is the earliest authority on the island, having visited it in 1831 when he completed a most extensive survey. He writes: 'Of its history little is known; there is no likelihood that it was settled early. Ere Labat, the only early writer who speaks of the Lesser West India islands, observes, that aborigines used it as an occasional rendezvous, where they procured great quantities of conchs (~trombusgigas); and large piles of these shells are still to be seen at the east end of the island, but nowhere else ; which seems to prove decidedly that it was not permanently accupied, but merely resorted to from time to time.
    [Show full text]
  • Twenty-Fifth Meeting of the Animals Committee
    AC25 Doc. 22 (Rev. 1) Annex 5 (English only / únicamente en inglés / seulement en anglais) Annex 5 Extract of Coral introduction from the ‘Checklist of CITES Species 2008’ (http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/pub/checklist08/index.html). References mentioned in this text can be looked up on the website. CORALS No standard references have been adopted for the coral species listed in the CITES Appendices. Two main references have been used as a basis for the taxonomy of Scleractinia spp., Milleporidae spp. and Stylasteridae spp.: Cairns et al. (1999), supplemented by Veron (2000). Antipatharia spp. have never been the subject of a complete taxonomic revision, although Opresko (1974) provided an incomplete summary. An ongoing revision of the Order by Opresko currently has five parts published (2001-2006), covering the families Aphanipathidae (22 spp.), Cladopathidae (16 spp.), Myriopathidae (32 spp.), Schizopathidae (37 spp.) and Stylopathidae (8 spp.), leaving the Antipathidae (approx. 122 spp.) and the Leiopathidae (6 spp.) to be dealt with. The accepted species of Leiopathidae in the UNEP-WCMC database and most of the accepted species of Antipathidae accord with those accepted by Bisby et al. (2007). A number of species that were not included in the 2005 checklist have been added to the 2008 Checklist. These include species described since 2005; species described before 2005 that were overlooked when producing the 2005 checklist; and species that are now considered to be accepted because of recent taxonomic revisions (Table 1). Others are newly added synonyms (Table 2). A number of other names included in the 2005 checklist have been subsequently modified.
    [Show full text]
  • Growth Dynamics in Acropora Cervicornis and A. Prolifera in Southwest Puerto Rico
    Growth dynamics in Acropora cervicornis and A. prolifera in southwest Puerto Rico Ernesto Weil1,*, Nicholas M. Hammerman2,*, Rebecca L. Becicka1 and Juan Jose Cruz-Motta1 1 Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, USA 2 Gehrmann Laboratories, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia * These authors contributed equally to this work. ABSTRACT Natural population recovery of Acropora palmata, A. cervicornis and their hybrid, Acropora prolifera, have fluctuated significantly after their Caribbean-wide, disease- induced mass mortality in the early 1980s. Even though significant recovery has been observed in a few localities, recurrent disease outbreaks, bleaching, storm damage, local environmental deterioration, algae smothering, predation, low sexual recruitment and low survivorship have affected the expected, quick recovery of these weedy species. In this study, the status of three recovering populations of A. cervicornis and two of A. prolifera were assessed over one year using coral growth and mortality metrics, and changes in their associated algae and fish/invertebrate communities in three localities in the La Parguera Natural Reserve (LPNR), southwest coast of Puerto Rico. Five branches were tagged in each of 29, medium size (1–2 m in diameter) A. cervicornis and 18 A. prolifera colonies in the Media Luna, Mario and San Cristobal reefs off LPNR. Branches were measured monthly, together with observations to evaluate associated disease(s), algae accumulation and predation. A. cervicornis grew faster [3.1 ± 0.44 cm/month (D 37.2 cm/y)] compared to A. prolifera [2.6 ± 0.41 cm/month (D 31.2 cm/y)], and growth was significantly higher during Winter-Spring compared to Summer-Fall for both taxa (3.5 ± 0.58 vs.
    [Show full text]