Coral Transplantation Research Articles

Settling in aggregation: Spatial planning consideration for brooding coral transplants

Aggregated larval co-settlement has been documented in myriad marine invertebrate taxa, shaping adult population structures. Still, kinship settlement patterns in brooding corals have not been studied in detail, especially under scenarios of enhanced larval assemblies. Employing two sets of ex-situ experiments, planulae staining for kinship resolution and a computer random settlement simulation, we show that larval settlement of the coral Stylophora pistillata, a brooding species in the Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat, is mostly affected by the number of larval donors, and that larvae tend to aggregate (up to 50% tissue-contacts; distances <3 mm), compared to 3% predicted in a computer simulation, all without a kinship-bias. Field surveys on juvenile colonies revealed a similar clustering pattern. Although aggregated settlement inevitably carries disadvantages such as intraspecific competition, it may be bracketed in adult colonies with benefits such as enhanced fertilization and chimerism-related ecological advantages, including augmented colony size and survivorship. These improved life-history traits of brooding coral species that aggregate could be harnessed as applied ecological engineering tools in reef restoration acts.

Linkages of Sustainable Development Goals with Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project in India: An Approach to Enhance Efficacy

Sustainable development of a country helps to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advance the transition to low-carbon, resource-efficient and inclusive economies. Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is one of the important process for the management of the coast using an integrated approach to achieve sustainability, regarding all aspects of the coastal zone, including geographical and political boundaries. In 2010, the Government of India had launched Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) to conserve, protect and manage the coastal and marine ecosystems, pollution abatement and livelihood security of the coastal communities with the assistance of the World Bank. The ICZM project in India was implemented in identified coastal stretches of the states of Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal. Under this project, activities related to conservation of the coastal ecosystems such as mangrove plantation, shelterbelt plantation, coral transplantation, enhancement of livelihood security of the coastal communities, pollution abatement in coastal areas, capacity building, etc. was undertaken. After almost 10 years of the commencement of the project, the satisfactory implementation of various activities in all the three states is evident from the numerous achievements under ICZM.

The effect of two types of grid transplantation on coral growth and the in-situ ecological restoration in a fragmented reef of the South China Sea

Due to climate change and human activities, coral reef ecosystems are facing a crisis of degradation globally. Some coral reefs in the northern part of Wuzhizhou Island (Southeastern Hainan Island, the South China Sea) have been fragmented because of continuous disturbance, and we systematically conducted in-situ restoration experiments to accelerate the ecological restoration in this area. In September 2019, 40 reefs with hollow structures were placed in the experimental area, and a control area was selected at the same depth. Twenty of the 40 reefs were covered by a cylindrical grid with a diameter of 0.5 cm (GFn group), and the remaining 20 were covered by a flat grid with a width of 1 cm (BFn group). A total of 1140 coral colonies, composed of Acropora hyacinthus, Acropora microphthalma, Acropora florida, Montipora truncata, and Porites lutea, were transplanted in this experiment, with an overall survival rate of 94.27% due to the coral transplant base of the carrying reefs being of sufficient weight, hollow structure, and dense grid. The survival rate and annual growth rate of Acropora in the GFn group with a narrow but large mesh and cylindrical design were significantly higher, and the fastest growth rate was found in A. hyacinthus, growing at 27.33 ± 10.37 cm2·month−1. Montipora truncata and P. lutea in the BFn group with a wide mesh and flat structure had higher survival rates and significantly greater growth rates. In the ecology of the coral community, coral coverage in the GFn group was significantly higher compared with the BFn group, which was mainly attributed to the difference in the growth of Acropora. Compared with the reef fragmentation area, the three-dimensional structure of the hollow reef and its radiation effect significantly attracted the accumulation of large invertebrates and reef fishes. Sea cucumbers and sea urchins gathered faster, forming a stable community structure. The dominant fish species gradually transformed from the large algae-eating fish Siganus fuscessens to the territorial algae-eating fish Dascyllus reticulatus due to changes in the three-dimensional structure of the grid surface caused by coral growth. Studies have shown that the three-dimensional structure of a reef can significantly affect the aggregation of benthic organisms. Among the selected corals, Acropora grew more rapidly, which established more complex three-dimensional structures to achieve a better ecological restoration effect in the reef area. The combination of tiled Montipora and lumpy Porites could increase the base coverage and reduce the impact of algae on the corals. Our results suggest that when transplanting different types of corals, we should consider the use of multiple comprehensive factors such as the type of the reef, the structure of the grid, the characteristics of the transplanted corals, and the influence of environmental factors.

Coral reef restoration in Indonesia: A review of policies and projects

Indonesia’s coral reefs have been severely damaged by global and local stressors, and a range of active restoration techniques are now being used in attempts to rebuild degraded reefs. However, it is difficult to summarise Indonesia’s restoration efforts as a whole due to a lack of consistent reporting. Here, we first discuss Indonesia's legal policy framework concerning reef restoration; this is included in the agenda of two government ministries (Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and Environment and Forestry), and comprises national laws and governmental, presidential and ministerial regulations. We then provide an extensive review of reef restoration projects in Indonesia, documenting 533 records across the country between 1990 and 2020. Most (73%) of these records come from the past ten years, and many (42%) are reported in online news articles rather than scientific reports or papers. This review identified 120,483 units of artificial reef installed across Indonesia, along with 53,640 units of coral transplantation (including both coral nurseries and direct out-planting onto reefs); in total, 965,992 fragments of hard coral have been planted across Indonesia. The most favoured restoration materials are concrete (46%) and steel structures (24%). Projects are organised by a diverse range of governmental, NGO, private and community-led organisations. This review demonstrates that Indonesia’s policy has encouraged a diverse range of practitioners to implement reef restoration, but projects are often not coordinated with wider networks of restoration practitioners or scientists, and only 16% of the identified projects included a post-installation monitoring framework. Incorporating clear objectives and long-term monitoring programmes in project planning stages, while prioritising knowledge exchange and engagement with international scientific community, will substantially improve restoration outcomes in Indonesia. This will allow the country to fulfil its considerable potential as a global leader in rebuilding damaged coral reefs.

Transplanting Coral Fragments in Close Contact Enhances Their Survival and Growth on Seawalls

Accelerated urbanisation has replaced many natural shorelines with coastal defences, resulting in the loss of natural habitats. However, structures such as seawalls can support some biotic assemblages, albeit of lower species richness. Ecological engineering techniques such as coral transplantation can enhance biodiversity on these artificial structures, but its success is circumscribed by high costs. Little is known about the fusion of discrete coral colonies that could potentially improve coral transplantation success on seawalls, particularly for the slow-growing massive species that are generally well-adapted to living on seawalls. Here, we investigated the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of transplanting Platygyra sinensis on seawalls by comparing the survivability and growth of fragments transplanted adjoining with those transplanted further apart. Fragments (approximately 3 cm diameter; n = 24) derived from three individuals were randomly grouped into two treatments, transplanted at 0.5 cm and 5 cm apart. Fragments in the former treatment came into contact with each other after three months. We observed that in all cases, the contact zones were characterised by a border of raised skeletal ridges without tissue necrosis, often termed nonfusion (=histoincompatible fusion). The adjoining transplants showed better survival (75 vs. 43%) and grew at a rate that was significantly higher than fragments transplanted 5 cm apart (3.7 ± 1.6 vs. 0.6 ± 1.1 cm2 month−1). Our projections demonstrated the possibility of reducing transplantation cost (USD cm−2) by 48.3% through nonfusion. These findings present nonfusion as a possible strategy to increase the overall cost-effectiveness of transplanting slow-growing massive species on seawalls.

Laju Pertumbuhan dan Tingkat Kelangsungan Hidup Karang Transplan Acropora hyacinthus pada Ukuran Fragmen yang Berbeda

Coral transplantation is an alternative way to maintain coral reef ecosystems sustainability. A. hyacinthus is one of the main reef builder and export commodities for decorative aquarium. Determining the initial size of coral fragments may create efficiency and effectiveness of transplantation. This study aims to examine the effects of different initial fragment lengths on growth, growth rate and survival rate of Acropora hyacinthus. Six colonies were fragmented to three initial lengths (30, 50 and 70 mm), where it was measured for 12 weeks. Growth rates were obtained every two weeks while survival rates were calculated amount of living fragments at the end of the observation substracted by the amount of living fragments at the beginning of the observation. The effects of different initial lengths were analysed using Tukey HSD two-way ANOVA and when parametric statistics asumptions did not meet, it was analysed using a non parametric statistic test. Thus the significant results were followed by Tukey HSD. The results showed that different initial fragment lengths had significant effect on the growth of length (p = 0.000), however there was no significant difference in diameter growth (p = 0.662). The lowest length growth rate was found at initial length 30 mm and the highest was at 70 mm long. In contrast, the lowest diameter growth rate was found 70 mm and the highest was at 30 mm long. The survival rates of different initial fragment lengths of fragmented reached 100% at all lengths.

Pertumbuhan dan Tingkat Kelangsungan Hidup Donor Transplan Karang Acropora hyacinthus Berdasarkan Ukuran Panjang Awal Fragmen yang Berbeda

Coral reefs play significant roles in both aspects of ecology and economy. However its status in Indonesian reefs is mainly moderate to poor condition. One of the alternative way to rehabilitate the damaged coral reef is coral transplantation. Acropora hyacinthus is one of export comodities for ornamental aquarium and important component of reef builder organisms. Studies showed that fragmentation causes stress on the coral donor as indicated by the excessive mucus production which in turn may affect the survival of the coral donors. This study aims to determine the growth and survival rates of donors based on the initial fragment sizes. A total of 5 coral donors of A. hyacinthus with relatively similar branch were fragmented into initial sizes of 30, 50 and 70 mm and the rests were controls. The growth was indicated by the increase in length which measured every two weeks for 12 weeks. The results showed that the absolute growth of coral donors were significantly different among initial sizes. The survival rate in the initial length of 30 mm (100%) was higher than those in 50 mm (80%) and 70 mm (80%).

Building the Capacity and Knowledge about Coral Rehabilitation of Tour Guides in Lemukutan Island

The coral reef ecosystem is one of the marine tourism attractions on Lemukutan Island, West Kalimantan. However, currently, some locations are in a relatively degraded condition, which should be addressed. One solution to this problem is coral transplantation activities involving tour guides. As part of the effort to rehabilitate the coral reef habitats, the Aquatic Resource Management Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Nahdlatul Ulama University, West Kalimantan, conducted community development activities to increase the capacity and knowledge of tour guides regarding coral reef ecosystems and coral transplantation techniques. This training was attended by fifteen tour guides from the Lemukutan Guide Group and ARTUNA (Anak Remaja Teluk Cina) Group. The participants were previously trained under PT Pertamina (Persero) and Yayasan Jejak Pesisir Nusantara. This training was carried out in three stages: (i) materials presentation and discussions, (ii) direct practice on the field, and (iii) evaluation. The post-test results showed that the training had increased participants' understanding of coral reef ecosystems and coral transplantation techniques by 40,00% and 33,33%, respectively.

Transplantasi Terumbu Karang Menggunakan Media Bioreeftek Di Perairan Pulau Dodola Kabupaten Pulau Morotai

Coral reefs and all the life in them is one of the natural wealth owned and priceless. However, based on the research results, the condition of dead coral in the waters of Dodola Island by 4% caused by the anchor of the ship. To reduce damage to coral reef ecosystems that continue to be developed today is to apply coral transplant techniques. The purpose of community service activities is to understand planting techniques and socialization of the role and function of coral reefs to tourists on the importance of coral reefs in Dodola water. The devotional activities include design, preparation of materials tools, manufacturing and harvesting of coral seeds, and installing seeds in bioreeftek media. Socialization and understanding of biographic coral reef transplant technology are carried out on the community, especially tourists. Before the activity is carried out, generally, the public does not know the importance of coral reefs and the benefits of transplantation. After socialization, the community begins to understand and understand the importance of coral reefs

Perspectives on working underwater with black coral nubbins (Cnidaria: Antipatharia): The case of Cirrhipathes anguina (Dana, 1846)

In order to test the feasibility of transplantation of the whip black coral species Cirrhipathes anguina (Dana, 1846) from Madagascar, transplants were installed on cultivation tables in two sites (the North Pass and the Grande Vasque) characterized by distinct environmental conditions. Following transplantation, the transplants were followed for short-term (20 days) healing capacities and medium-term (200 days) mortality and growth rates. Results show a successful transplantation in both sites with 0% mortality (except in the form of missing fragments) and a certain growth over 200 days. Maximum growth rates were 3.4 cm/month and 2.0 cm/month in the North Pass and in the Grande Vasque, respectively. In addition, mean time to total healing was delayed in the Grande Vasque compared to the transplants in the North Pass (10 days). Differences between sites are likely to be related to differences in environmental parameters. Altogether, the promising results obtained with the easy protocol used in this study encourage the use of black coral transplants in further in situ experiments and restoration projects.

Active Ecological Restoration of Cold-Water Corals: Techniques, Challenges, Costs and Future Directions

Cold-water coral (CWC) habitats dwell on continental shelves, slopes, seamounts, and ridge systems around the world’s oceans from 50 to 4000 m depth, providing heterogeneous habitats which support a myriad of associated fauna. These highly diverse ecosystems are threatened by human stressors such as fishing activities, gas and oil exploitation, and climate change. Since their life-history traits such as long lifespan and slow growth rates make CWCs very vulnerable to potential threats, it is a foremost challenge to explore the viability of restoration actions to enhance and speed up their recovery. In contrast to terrestrial and shallow-water marine ecosystems, ecological restoration in deep marine environments has received minimal attention. This review, by means of a systematic literature search, aims to identify CWC restoration challenges, assess the most suitable techniques to restore them, and discuss future perspectives. Outcomes from the few restoration actions performed to date on CWCs, which have lasted between 1 to 4 years, provide evidence of the feasibility of coral transplantation and artificial reef deployments. Scientific efforts should focus on testing novel and creative restoration techniques, especially to scale up to the spatial and temporal scales of impacts. There is still a general lack of knowledge about the biological, ecological and habitat characteristics of CWC species exploration of which would aid the development of effective restoration measures. To ensure the long-term viability and success of any restoration action it is essential to include holistic and long-term monitoring programs, and to ideally combine active restoration with natural spontaneous regeneration (i.e., passive restoration) strategies such as the implementation of deep-sea marine protected areas (MPAs). We conclude that a combination of passive and active restoration approaches with involvement of local society would be the best optimal option to achieve and ensure CWC restoration success.

A survey of current trends and suggested future directions in coral transplantation for reef restoration.

Coral transplantation has been used in reef restoration for several decades, but information on the type of projects, their scope, scale, and success is mostly limited to published scientific studies and technical reports. Many practitioners do not have the capacity to share their progress in peer-reviewed literature, yet likely have a wealth of information to share on how to improve the efficiency of transplantation efforts. In order to incorporate non-published data on coral transplantation projects and gain an overview of the general features of these projects, we conducted an initial systematic online survey of projects run by various practitioners. Surveyed projects (n = 50) covered most of the tropical belt and ranged in size from a few hundred transplanted corals to >5000 transplants. The most frequent source of coral fragments were corals already broken from some previous impact ("corals of opportunity"; 58% of projects), followed by fragments stored in different types of aquaculture systems (42% of projects). The use of sexual reproduction was very limited. Fast-growing, branching corals were used in 96% of projects, being by far the most common transplanted growth form. About half of the projects mentioned undertaking maintenance of the transplantation plots. The majority of projects undertook subsequent monitoring (80%), yet the available data indicates that duration of monitoring efforts was not adequate to evaluate long-term success. The findings underline that while some general principles for successful coral restoration projects are reasonably well established, others need to be mainstreamed better in order to improve the effectiveness of coral transplantation for reef restoration. This relates in particular to sustainable funding, adequate site assessment, and long-term monitoring using established protocols. Additional information is needed to better understand and address potential challenges with regards to the sourcing of transplants and use of slow-growing species. A better integration of practitioners is necessary to improve the understanding of coral transplantation effectiveness. The results underline a need to develop and use monitoring protocols that allow gauging and comparing the effectiveness of coral transplantation among various projects, as well as for accessible platform(s) to allow the exchange of experiences made in different projects. Regular surveys of restoration projects are recommended to collate and share information among practitioners. We provide a number of recommendations for items to include in future surveys.

Influence of fragment size on post transplantation growth and survival of domed scleractinian corals

ABSTRACT Coral transplantation helps to reinstate coral cover in degraded reefs, but the general success of this approach is hampered by limited understanding of how coral-fragment size affects growth and survival of transplants of non-branching species. In this study, we compared the effects of three size classes of coral fragments (small: 2–4 cm, medium: 5–7 cm and large: 9–11 cm) on the post-transplantation survivorship and growth of Favites complanata (n = 51), Favites pentagona (n = 54) and Platygyra sinensis (n = 60) attached to granite rocks on a subtidal seawall in Singapore. After 18 months, transplants of all species showed high survivorship (all >64%) and up to 6.3-fold increase in live tissue area. Survivorship was not significantly different among the size classes of each species. Mean linear extension rates were fastest only for small F. complanata transplants compared to medium-sized ones. Our findings also suggested that the transplantation of only small fragments could generate better yield in live coral cover and present the most optimal use of the original amount of coral source material. Such information is critical for formulating management and conservation strategies in urbanized reef systems typically dominated by non-branching corals.

Colony-Level 3D Photogrammetry Reveals That Total Linear Extension and Initial Growth Do Not Scale With Complex Morphological Growth in the Branching Coral, Acropora cervicornis

The ability to quantify changes in the structural complexity of reefs and individual coral colonies that build them is vital to understanding, managing, and restoring the function of these ecosystems. However, traditional methods for quantifying coral growth in situ fail to accurately quantify the diversity of morphologies observed both among and within species that contribute to topographical complexity. Three-dimensional (3D) photogrammetry has emerged as a powerful tool for the quantification of reefscape complexity but has yet to be broadly adopted for quantifying the growth and morphology of individual coral colonies. Here we debut a high-throughput method for colony-level 3D photogrammetry and apply this technique to explore the relationship between linear extension and other growth metrics in Acropora cervicornis. We fate-tracked 156 individual coral transplants to test whether initial growth can be used to predict subsequent patterns of growth. We generated photographic series of fragments in a restoration nursery immediately before transplanting to natural reef sites and re-photographed coral at 6 months and 1 year post-transplantation. Photosets were used to build 3D models with Agisoft Metashape, which was automated to run on a high-performance computing system using a custom script to serially process models without the need for additional user input. Coral models were phenotyped in MeshLab to obtain measures of total linear extension (TLE), surface area, volume, and volume of interstitial space (i.e., the space between branches). 3D-model based measures of TLE were highly similar to by-hand measurements made in the field (r = 0.98), demonstrating that this method is compatible with established techniques without additional in water effort. However, we identified an allometric relationship between the change in TLE and the volume of interstitial space, indicating that growth in higher order traits is not necessarily a linear function of growth in branch length. Additionally, relationships among growth measures weakened when comparisons were made across time points, implying that the use of early growth to predict future performance is limited. Taken together, results show that 3D photogrammetry is an information rich method for quantifying colony-level growth and its application can help address contemporary questions in coral biology.

Among-genotype responses of the coral Pocillopora acuta to emersion: implications for the ecological engineering of artificial coastal defences

Stony corals are promising transplant candidates for the ecological engineering of artificial coastal defences such as seawalls as they attract and host numerous other organisms. However, seawalls are exposed to a wide range of environmental stressors associated with periods of emersion during low tide such as desiccation and changes in salinity, temperature, and solar irradiance. All of these variables have known deleterious effects on coral physiology, growth, and fitness. In this study, we performed parallel experiments (in situ and ex situ) to examine among-genotype responses of Pocillopora acuta to emersion by quantifying growth, photophysiological metrics (Fv/Fm, non-photochemical quenching [NPQ], endosymbiont density, and chlorophyll [chl] a concentration) and survival, following different emersion periods. Results showed that coral fragments emersed for longer durations (>2 h) exhibited reduced growth and survival. Endosymbiont density and NPQ, but not Fv/Fm and chl a concentration, varied significantly among genotypes across different durations of emersion. Overall, the ability of P. acuta to tolerate emersion for up to 2 h suggests its potential to serve as a ‘starter species’ for transplantation efforts on seawalls. Further, careful characterisation and selection of genotypes with a high capacity to withstand emersion can help maximise the efficacy of ecological engineering using coral transplants.

Improvement of the coral growth and cost-effectiveness of hybrid infrastructure by an innovative breakwater design in Naha Port, Okinawa, Japan

ABSTRACT Hybrid infrastructure combining gray and green infrastructure should be more cost-effective than gray infrastructure; however, its cost-effectiveness and cost-effective methods for its construction are not clear. Here we used pro-environment breakwaters, having the original breakwater function of wave attenuation along with the additional function of providing marine-life habitats, as a model for estimating the cost-effectiveness of hybrid infrastructure. We defined effectiveness as the area of coral cover on the breakwaters. We compared coral areas between a normal (control) breakwater, and pro-environment breakwaters (PBs) with artificial tide pools (ATPs) at shallow depth (PBshallow) or ATPs at deeper depth (PBdeep). The coral area increased by ~10% on PBshallow and ~20% on PBdeep compared to the control. PBdeep had the largest increase in coral area, resulting from the installation of ATPs, which accounted for ~40% of the increase in coral area. PBdeep, with greater breakwater surface area and ATPs at depths more appropriate for corals than PBshallow, increased the cost-effectiveness by ~10% compared to the control. Our finding that the cost-effectiveness of ATP installation is comparable to that of coral transplantation to natural reefs suggests that ATPs are cost-effective for coral habitat restoration.

Pertumbuhan dan Tingkat Kelangsungan Hidup Transplan Karang Lunak Menggunakan Metode Gantung Pada Lokasi Budidaya yang Berbeda

Besides the second largest community in the coral reef ecosystem, the attractive shapes and colors of soft corals establish it an export commodity for the marine ornamental aquarium. The transplantation methods in soft coral are limited. Commonly method for soft coral transplantation is attached to the artificial substrate followed by placed at table frame. However, this method is easily covered by algae and costly. One of the alternative methods is vertically hanging that this method commonly applied in hard corals transplantation. This study aimed to examine the average differences of growth rates among different transplanted soft coral species, different location, and the presence of interaction between soft coral species and location towards the difference of growth rates. Moreover, it determined the average survival rates among different transplanted soft coral species at different location. There were three soft coral species, Lobophytum strictum, Sinularia polydactyla and S. asterolobata. They were fragmented at initial size ± 25 cm2, hanging vertically in 1.5 m length, and 0.03 m diameter followed by located inside and outside the Pegametan bay, Sumberkima village, Buleleng Regency. The increased size of each transplanted soft coral species and the number of survivals and environmental parameters were observed every two weeks for 12 weeks. The average in growth rates among species, location, and interaction was analysed using two ways Anova, whereas the survival rates were tested using Log-Rank. Results showed that the average growth rates of transplanted soft coral inside the bay were significantly higher (4.53 cm2) than outside the bay (1.64 cm2). Moreover, the average growth rates of transplanted S. polydactyla were significantly higher than others (5.22 cm2), (respectively; 2.35 cm2 and 1.7 cm2). It was also indicated that different location and species did not differentiate the transplanted soft corals' average growth rate. The survival rates of the transplanted soft corals in different location were not significantly different as well.&#x0D;

Physics Oseanography Around Artificial Reef On The Pantai Of Damas, Trenggalek District, East Java

Damage to coral reefs is generally caused by destructive fishing activities, they were the usega of explosives, cyanide toxic materials, coral mining for building materials, anchor boat anchors, and the results of sedimentation. Efforts to speed up the process of coral reef recovery, several methods of rehabilitation that can be done include coral transplantation and sinking of artificial reefs. The artificial reef is an alternative to reduce the pressure caused by fishing and destruction of natural coral reefs through the creation of new productive fishing grounds. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of water parameters (physical oceanography) for biota around artificial reefs based on Geographic Information Systems. The results of identification of oceanographic parameters in the waters of Damas Beach, Trenggalek Regency consist of: (a). depths range from 0-45 meters, (b). brightness ranges from 2 - 6 meters, (c). water temperature ranges from 25.18-29.59ºC, (d). water turbidity ranges from 0.3-4.32 NTU, (e). type of substrate base waters of Damas Beach fine black sand, (f). current speed ranges from 0.1-0.4 m/s, (h). the average wave height of Damas Beach in the morning, afternoon and evening is 5.6 cm, 8.14 cm and 6.2 cm, (i). the total suspended solid waters of Damas Beach range from 35-351 mg/L. The physical oceanographic parameters are still safe for the growth and development of biota in the waters of Damas Beach, Trenggalek Regency.

If You Plant It, They Will Come: Rapid Recruitment of Habitat-Dependent Marine Invertebrates to Transplanted Fragments of an Endangered Soft Coral Species

In recent decades, the transplantation of corals has been a primary focus of restoration strategies in areas where coral populations have declined [...]

Assessment to 2100 of the effects of reef formation on increased wave heights due to intensified tropical cyclones and sea level rise at Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan

ABSTRACT Tropical cyclones (TCs) cause enormous damage to unprotected coastal areas. Healthy coral reefs can reduce this damage and are low cost and maintenance free. We use a wave simulation model to estimate changes that will occur by 2100 in wave height on a coral reef for a healthy reef and a degraded reef under variable TC wave conditions and sea level rise at Ishigaki Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Moreover, we estimate the potential reef production rate based on analysis of a Holocene reef core, and indicate possible reef restoration and conservation strategies, including a selection of appropriate coral communities for transplantation, if the future reef is degraded. Our findings indicate that the significant wave height at the reef flat will increase from 1.69 m at present to a maximum of 3.00 m for degraded reefs and a maximum of 2.63 m for healthy reefs under intensified TCs by 2100. The value of potential reef production rate required for healthy reefs by 2100 is 3–10 kg CaCO3/m2/y. If the reef is degraded by global and local impacts, planning for reef restoration and conservation such as direct coral transplantation of Acropora digitifera and Acropora hyacinthus may be considered.