Abstract Summary
For 10 years we have been conducting experimental coral restoration effort in the Bahamas through direct transplantation and outplanting of from nurseries using Acropora spp. and other species. An important part of these efforts from their start has been the development of a hierarchical monitoring program to assess the success of our coral restoration efforts and to determine what factors can influence success. Within the restoration study system off Abaco, Bahamas, source colonies have been genotyped and fragments from each source colony individually tagged and grown at different depths in line nurseries at two locations. New growth from fragments in the is cut to outplant to reefs annually or biannually. Outplants are then individually tagged and their survival and growth tracked annually. Physical parameters of the site such as temperature are also monitored. In addition to tracking the individual outplants the monitoring program includes assessments of naturally occurring coral populations, benthic cover and fish communities on experimental reefs and controls. Results of monitoring efforts show how growth and survival of colonies varies based on outplant site, source colony, conditions in nurseries and size of the outplanted fragments. Between reef survival varied considerably and could be attributed to differences in coralivorous snails (Coralliophila abbreviata) at sites. The effect of coral outplants on fish and benthic communities at restoration sites on Abaco and other parts of The Bahamas are also discussed. Based on these results, we have developed recommendations for conducting coral restoration in The Bahamas, which may be applicable to other locations. Finally, we touch on experimental outplanting of other species and factors that have influenced their growth and survival.
