Abstract Summary
Acropora cervicornis was restored on two sites (Jeff Davis and Playa Lechi) on Bonaire and monitored for 1 year. Playa Lechi is located in front of the main city of Kralendijk while Jeff Davis is 7 km north. On each site 50 one meter quadrats were installed covering approximately an area of 150m2. On each quadrat 25 colonies from one of 11 genotypes grown in the CRFB nurseries were attached and growth in terms of coral cover was monitored during one year. Results show large differences in growth between the two locations. On average coral cover at Jeff Davis increased linearly (0.06% per day or 21.6% per year) and similar in every quadrat from 16% at the start to 38% after one year with very little mortality. Genotype had a very small effect on the net growth rate. In front of the main urbanised area growth was erratic, mostly negative, and often non-linear. On average coral cover had decreased here from 17 to 7.7% after one year; 40 of the 50 quadrats had decreased in coral cover, 7 had increased and 3 ended at the same size they were installed. Environmental conditions in front of Kralendijk are presumed to be responsible for the lack of growth and high mortality of the restored staghorn corals here. Under normal conditions (Jeff Davis) however coral cover increases rapidly and, based on current nursery dimensions, CRFB will be able to restore approximately 1200m2 of staghorn reef each year.
