Transplantation and cultivation of fragments of coral colonies of various scleractinian species on a reef in Vietnam

Author: Latypov, Yu.

Source: Russian Journal of Marine Biology, Volume 32, Number 6, December 2006 , pp. 375-381(7)

Publisher: MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica

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Abstract:

Six coral species of the genus Acropora and two species of the genus Porites were studied during experiments on cultivation of reef-building scleractinian corals. The research has established species-specific factors and others affecting regeneration of fragments and growth of new colonies in these coral species. The accretion of donor fragments and new branches averaged from 40 to 160 mm per year, depending on the coral species, colony size, and season of transplantation. An average monthly accretion of medium and larger transplants and growth of new branches were 1.2-1.3 times higher at spring cultivation than at autumn transplanting. When transplanted, coral fragments of medium and larger sizes survived well and showed higher growth rates in all species studied. These transplants developed the highest number of new branches, and their buds and formed the largest colonies. Prolongation of the cultivation time from 1 to 1.5 years caused a 1.2-1.4 fold accretion of transplants.

Keywords: transplantation of corals; regeneration; growth; species-specificity

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1134/S1063074006060071

Affiliations: 1: Email: ltpv@stl.ru

Publication date: 2006-12-01