Caribbean Acropora Restoration Guide - The Florida Reef ...

Chapter 4 | Case Studies
Case Study 2
Recovery of Acropora cervicornis in the
Upper Florida Keys through modifications of
multiple nursery designs
Background
Historically, A. cervicornis was commonly found on the forereef and patch reefs off the Upper Florida Keys. Over
the last two decades, populations have decreased ~80–90%. Multiple stressors such as coral bleaching, disease,
hurricanes and the loss of the long-spined sea urchin, Diadema antillarum, have contributed to their decline. The
goals of this project are to aid in the recovery of A. cervicornis in the Upper Florida Keys by enhancing coral
production through the modification of varying nursery designs.
Nursery Location
Tavernier Key, FL
Nursery Site Description
• Originally chosen for a live rock aquaculture farm.
• Fine sand bottom in ~30 feet of water.
• Site selection criteria: good water quality, protection from storms, easily accessible.
• Currently holds ›15,000 A. cervicornis corals from 90 different genotypes.
Nursery Design
Each design has been modified over the last 10 years to reduce maintenance requirements and increase coral
production.
Block Nursery Line Nursery Coral Tree Nursery
Block nurseries are constructed of a
concrete slab or block, cement filled
PVC pedestals and cement pucks of
various shapes (round, triangular,
etc.). The blocks are anchored with
rebar covered with PVC sleeve and zip
ties. Corals are attached to the pucks
using underwater epoxy.
Line nurseries are constructed of vertical
polypropylene lines anchored to the
substrate with duck-billed anchors and
suspended using small sub-surface buoys
with thin horizontal polypropylene lines
strung between vertical lines. Fragments
are attached using colored wire ties to
track genotypes.
Coral tree nurseries have simple
frameworks that resemble the shape
of a tree. The trees are tethered to the
seafloor, and have sub-surface buoys.
The trees can move up and down in the
water column by adjusting the length
of the tether. Corals are attached with
wire line or monofilament.
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