Caribbean Acropora Restoration Guide - The Florida Reef ...

Chapter 3 | Coral Gardening Methodology
Coral Gardening Methodology
There is no “one size fits all” approach that applies to all locations, regions and environmental conditions.
Therefore, propagation and restoration activities should be adaptive and flexible enough to account for the
inherent variability in the response of corals to their local environment. Nursery and outplanting designs
should account for variation in factors such as water conditions (e.g., depth, wave energy, turbidity), habitat
suitability, competition and likelihood of human impacts.
The following guidelines are provided as first steps towards the selection, design and construction of potentially
successful nurseries based on the collective experience of practitioners in this field.
Nursery Setup
Goal: Select appropriate nursery site, choose site-appropriate nursery design and construct durable,
cost-efficient propagation platforms that will provide adequate attachment and growth environments for
nursery corals.
Site Selection
The first step in nursery design is to choose an appropriate site. There are several factors to consider in site
selection to promote nursery success.
• Existing Wild Populations: Local knowledge of the distribution and status of remaining populations
should guide site selection. Habitats or reef areas that harbor healthy Acropora populations likely
provide adequate environmental conditions for the growth of corals in nearby nurseries.
• Depth: Nurseries should be constructed in depths where the species is typically found. Successful
Acropora nurseries have been established in depths of 2–10 m. Deeper locations may protect against
storm damage and boating impacts, but can result in reduced growth. The logistical complication of
diving to deeper depths may also make such locations impractical. Shallower locations may be more
susceptible to sedimentation, thermal fluctuations and UV stress. Most importantly, the depths of
donor colonies, nursery sites and outplant sites should be similar.
• Water Motion: Ideal nursery locations are those that provide moderate to low water movement
without causing excessive physical damage to the platforms and corals. Be cognizant of changes in
seasonal weather patterns that may dramatically affect site conditions at different times of the year.
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