Growth and Survival Rate of Three Transplanted Coral Taxa (Acropora robusta, Pocillopora damicornis and Platygyra daedalea) on Coral Reefs in Eastern Thailand
Abstract
Coral reefs currently suffer from degradation as a result of both natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Although natural recovery can occur in some reefs, it is a very slow process. Coral reef rehabilitation is one of the popular efforts to restore degraded reefs. However, it is unclear which parameters should be used to evaluate the suitability of new habitats for transplants. This study tests the effect of environmental variables on morphological plasticity among transplanted clone-mates in corals including Acropora robusta, Pocillopora damicornis and Platygyra daedalea. The corals were transplanted from Viharn Luang Phor Dam Beach, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province (as reference site) to experimental sites in Koh Sichang, Chonburi Province; Koh Mun Nai, Rayong Province; and Koh Rad- Koh Kood, Trat Province for 8 months during June 2020 – February 2021. At the end of the study, mean growth rates of Acropora sp., P. damicornis and P. daedalea were found to be 0.48+1.37, 0.15+0.42 and 0.04+0.41 cm/month, respectively. Survival rate varied among coral taxa and sites Acropora robusta and P. damicornis had significantly lower survival (p < 0.05) at Viharn Luang Phor Dam than at other sites. Meanwhile, P. daedalea had significantly lower survival (p < 0.05) at Koh Mun Nai and Koh Sichang.Correlations between environmental variables and growth rates of transplanted corals show significant relationships (p < 0.05) with positive and negative effects on growth rate. Some effects may not have been revealed due to the short monitoring time in this project and the low number of replicates as a result of damage to some transplants. Future work should involve long-term monitoring of transplanted coral and more replications of transplants. Keywords: Acropora ; Pocillopora ; Platygyra ; rehabilitation ; morphologyReferences
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Adjeroud, M., Chancerelle, Y., Schrimm, M., Perez, T., Lecchini, D., Galzin, R. and Salvat, B. (2005). Detecting the effects of natural disturbances on coral assemblages in French Polynesia: a decade survey at multiple scales. Aquat. Living Resour, 18, 111–123.
Baird, A.H. and Hughes, T.P. (2000). Competitive dominance by tabular corals. An experimental analysis of recruitment and survival of understorey assemblages. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 251, 117–132.
Banin, E., Israel, T., Fine, M., Loya, Y. & Rosenberg, E. (2001). Role of endosymbiotic zooxanthellae and coral mucus in the adhesion of the coral-bleaching pathogen Vibrio shiloi to its host. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 199, 33-37.
Bongiorni, L., Shafir, S., Angel, D. and Rinkevich, B. (2003a). Survival, growth and gonad development of two hermatypic corals subjected to in situ fish-farm nutrient enrichment. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 253, 137–144.
Bongiorni, L., Shafir, S., Angel, D. and Rinkevich, B. (2003b). Effects of particulate matter released by a fish farm (Eilat, Red Sea) on survival and growth of Stylophora pistillata coral nubbins. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46, 1120–1124.
Carroll, A.G., Harrison, P.L. and Adjeroud, M. (2017). Susceptibility of coral assemblages to successive bleaching events at Moorea, French Polynesia. Mar. Freshw. Res., 68, 760–771.
Chankong, A. and Manthachitra, V. (2006). Species, Distribution and Community Structure of the Scleractinian Corals Genus Acropora in the Gulf of Thailand. Bangkok: BRT Research Reports 2009. (in Thai)
Chankong, A., Kongjandtre, N., Senanan, W., and Manthachitra, V. (2020). Community composition of Symbiodiniaceae among four scleractinian corals in the eastern Gulf of Thailand. Regional Studies in Marine Science., 33 (100918).
Dias, M., Ferreirab, A., Gouveiab,R., Cerejaa, R. and Vinagre, C. (2018). Mortality, growth and regeneration following fragmentation of reef-forming corals under thermal stress, Journal of Sea Research, 141, 71-82.
Dunne, R. P. and Brown, B. E. (2001). The influence of solar radiation on bleaching of shallow water reef corals in the Andaman Sea, 1993–1998.Coral Reefs, 20, 201–210.
Edwards, A. J. and Clark, S. (1998). Coral transplantation: a useful management tool or misguided meddling. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 37, 474-487.
Fabricius, K. E., De'Ath, G., Puotinen, M. L., Done, T., Cooper, T. F. and Burgess, S.C. (2008). Disturbance gradients on inshore and offshore coral reefs caused by a severe tropical cyclone. Limnol. Ocean, 53, 690–704.
Fitt, W. K., McFarland, F. K., Warner, M. E. and Chilcoat, G. C. (2000). Seasonal patterns of tossue biomass and densities of symbiotic dinoflagellates in reef corals and relation to coral bleaching. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, 45, 667-685.
Forrester, G. E., Maynard, A., Schofield, S., and Taylor, K. (2012). Evaluation causes of transplant stress in fragment of Acropora plamata used for coral reef restoration. Bulletin of marine science, 88(4), 1099 – 1113.
Glynn, P.W. (1983). Extensive "bleaching" and death of reef corals on the Pacific coast of Panama. Environ. Conserv., 10, 149–154.
Gomez, M., Pérez-Gallardo, R. V., Sánchez, L. A., Díaz-Pérez, A. L., Cortés-Rojo, C., Carmen, M. V., Saavedra-Molina, A., Lara-Romero, J., Jiménez-Sandoval, S., Rodríguez, F., Rodríguez-Zavala, J. S., & Campos-García, J. (2014). Malfunctioning of the iron-sulfur cluster assembly machinery in Saccharomyces cerevisiae produces oxidative stress via an iron-dependent mechanism, causing dysfunction in respiratory complexes. PLoS One, 9(10),111-585.
Gong, S., Chai, G., Xiao, Y., Xu, L., Yu, K., Li, J., Liu, F., Cheng, H., Zhang, F., Liao, B., Li, Z., 2018. Flexible symbiotic associations of Symbiodinium with five typical coral species in tropical and subtropical reef regions of the Northern South China Sea. Front. Micro. Biol., 9 (2485).
Guest, J. R., Low, J., Tun, K., Wilso, B., Ng, C., Raingeard, D., Ulstrup, K. E., Tanzil, J. T. I., Todd, P. A., Toh, T. C., McDougald, D., Chou, L. M., & Steinberg, P. D. (2016). Coral community response to bleaching on a highly disturbed reef. Scientific Reports, 6, 20717, DOI: 10.1038/srep20717.
Guest, J., Baird, A., Maynard, J. A., and Muttaqin, E. (2012). Contrasting Patterns of Coral Bleaching Susceptibility in 2010 Suggest an Adaptive Response to Thermal Stress. PLoS ONE, 7(3),:e33353.
Harriott, V. J. (1999). Coral growth in subtropical eastern Australia. Coral Reefs., 18, 281 – 291.
Hoegh-Guldberg, O. (1999). Climate change, coral bleaching and the future of the world coral reefs. Marine and Freshwater Research, 50(8), 839-866.
James, M., Crabbe, C., and Smith, D. J. (2005). Sediment impacts on growth rates of Acropora and Porites corals from fringing reefs of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Coral Reefs, 24, 437–441.
Jandang, S., Chavanich, S., and Viyakarn, V. (2015). Effect of chronic salinity stress on bleaching and recovery of a Staghorn Coral Acropora millepora (Ehrenberg, 1834). In The 6th Hatyai National Conference. (pp. 1544-1553). Columbia: Hatyai University.
Jose de Jesus, A., T., Rodríguez-Troncoso, A. P., Cupul-Magaña, A. L., and Carricart-Ganivet, J. P. (2017). Calcification and growth rate recovery of the reef-building Pocillopora species in the northeast tropical Pacific following an ENSO disturbance. Peer J. DOI 10.7717/peerj.3191.
Kleypas, J. A., Danabasoglu, G., & Lough, J. M. (2008). Potential role of the ocean thermostat in. determining regional differences in coral bleaching events. Geophysical Research Letters, 35(3).
Kongjandtre, N., Senanan, W., Panithanarak, T., Chankong, A., and Putchim, L. (2020). Zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium) genetic diversity in scleractinian and alcyonarian corals in Thai waters. Final Report submitted to Research, Development and Engineering Report. Pathum Thani: National Science and Technology Development Agency. (in Thai)
Lindah, U. (2003). Coral reef rehabitation through transplantation of staghorn coral: effect of artificial stabilization and mechanical damages. Coral Reefs, 22(3), 217-223.
Loya, Y., Sakai, K., Yamazato, K., Nakano, Y., Sambali, H. and van Woesik, R. (2001). Coral bleaching: the winners and the losers. Ecol. Lett., 4, 122–131.
McClanahan, T.R. and Maina, J. (2003). Response of coral assemblages to the interaction between natural temperature variation and rare warm-water events. Ecosystems, 6, 551–563.
Muko, S., Kawasaki,K., Sakai, K., Takasu, F., and Shigesada, N. (2020). Morphological plasticity in the coral Porites sillimaniani and its adaptive significance. Bulletin of Marine Science -Miami-, 66(1), 225-239.
Mumby, P. J., Chisholm, J. R. M., Edwards, A. J., Andrefouet, S., & Jaubert, J. (2001). Cloudy weather may have saved Society Island reef corals during the 1998 ENSO event. Mar Ecol Prog Ser, 222, 209–216.
Okuboa, N., & Onuma, A. (2015). An economic and ecological consideration of commercial coral transplantation to restore the marine ecosystem in Okinawa, Japan. Ecosystem Services, 11, 39–44.
Philipp, E. & Fabricius, K. (2003). Photophysiological stress in scleractinian corals in response to short-term sedimentation. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 287(1), 57-78.
Pratchett, M.S. (2001). Influence of coral symbionts on feeding preferences of crown-oft horns starfish Acanthaster planci in the western Pacific. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 214, 111–119.
Rindengan, A.J., Pinontoan, B., Latumakulita, L.A., Mongi, C.E., Montolalu, C.E.J.C., and Langi, Y.A.R. (2019). Coral reef’s healthy level measurement system design using digital image processing on Bunaken National Sea Park IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng., 567.
Samlansin, K., Chawakitchareon, K., and Rungsupa, S. (2020). Effects of Salinity and Nitrate on Coral Health Levels of Acropora sp. Thai Environmental Engineering Journal, 34(1), 19-26.
Shaish, L., Levy, G. Katzir, G., & Rinkevich, B. (2010). Employing a highly fragmented, weedy coral species in reef restoration. Ecological engineering, 36, 1424-1432.
Thongtham, N. (2005). Development of Coral Community On Artificial Substrates at Maiton Island, Phuket. Bangkok: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. (in Thai)
Todd, P. A. (2008). Morphological plasticity in scleractinian corals. Biol. Rev, 83, 315-337.
Todd, P.A., Sidle, R. C., and Lewin-Koh, N. J. I. (2004). An aquarium experiment for identifying the physical factors inducing morphological change in two massive scleractinian corals. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 299, 97 – 113.
Udomsap,B., Chawakitchareon, P. and Rungsupa, S. (2018). The Effects of Temperature and Ammonia to Coral Health Level: A Case Study of Hump Coral (Porites sp.) at Sichang Island, Thailand. The 56th Kasetsart University Annual Conference.
Weber, M., Beer, D., Lott, C., Polerecky, L., Kohls, K., Abed, R. M., Ferdelman, T.G., Fabricius, K.E. (2012). Mechanisms of damage to corals exposed to sedimentation Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 109, 1558-1567
Weber, M., Lott, C., & Fabricius, K.E. (2006). Sedimentation stress in a scleractinian coral exposed to terrestrial and marine sediments with contrasting physical, organic and geochemical properties. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 336, 18-32
Adjeroud, M., Chancerelle, Y., Schrimm, M., Perez, T., Lecchini, D., Galzin, R. and Salvat, B. (2005). Detecting the effects of natural disturbances on coral assemblages in French Polynesia: a decade survey at multiple scales. Aquat. Living Resour, 18, 111–123.
Baird, A.H. and Hughes, T.P. (2000). Competitive dominance by tabular corals. An experimental analysis of recruitment and survival of understorey assemblages. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 251, 117–132.
Banin, E., Israel, T., Fine, M., Loya, Y. & Rosenberg, E. (2001). Role of endosymbiotic zooxanthellae and coral mucus in the adhesion of the coral-bleaching pathogen Vibrio shiloi to its host. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 199, 33-37.
Bongiorni, L., Shafir, S., Angel, D. and Rinkevich, B. (2003a). Survival, growth and gonad development of two hermatypic corals subjected to in situ fish-farm nutrient enrichment. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 253, 137–144.
Bongiorni, L., Shafir, S., Angel, D. and Rinkevich, B. (2003b). Effects of particulate matter released by a fish farm (Eilat, Red Sea) on survival and growth of Stylophora pistillata coral nubbins. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46, 1120–1124.
Carroll, A.G., Harrison, P.L. and Adjeroud, M. (2017). Susceptibility of coral assemblages to successive bleaching events at Moorea, French Polynesia. Mar. Freshw. Res., 68, 760–771.
Chankong, A. and Manthachitra, V. (2006). Species, Distribution and Community Structure of the Scleractinian Corals Genus Acropora in the Gulf of Thailand. Bangkok: BRT Research Reports 2009. (in Thai)
Chankong, A., Kongjandtre, N., Senanan, W., and Manthachitra, V. (2020). Community composition of Symbiodiniaceae among four scleractinian corals in the eastern Gulf of Thailand. Regional Studies in Marine Science., 33 (100918).
Dias, M., Ferreirab, A., Gouveiab,R., Cerejaa, R. and Vinagre, C. (2018). Mortality, growth and regeneration following fragmentation of reef-forming corals under thermal stress, Journal of Sea Research, 141, 71-82.
Dunne, R. P. and Brown, B. E. (2001). The influence of solar radiation on bleaching of shallow water reef corals in the Andaman Sea, 1993–1998.Coral Reefs, 20, 201–210.
Edwards, A. J. and Clark, S. (1998). Coral transplantation: a useful management tool or misguided meddling. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 37, 474-487.
Fabricius, K. E., De'Ath, G., Puotinen, M. L., Done, T., Cooper, T. F. and Burgess, S.C. (2008). Disturbance gradients on inshore and offshore coral reefs caused by a severe tropical cyclone. Limnol. Ocean, 53, 690–704.
Fitt, W. K., McFarland, F. K., Warner, M. E. and Chilcoat, G. C. (2000). Seasonal patterns of tossue biomass and densities of symbiotic dinoflagellates in reef corals and relation to coral bleaching. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, 45, 667-685.
Forrester, G. E., Maynard, A., Schofield, S., and Taylor, K. (2012). Evaluation causes of transplant stress in fragment of Acropora plamata used for coral reef restoration. Bulletin of marine science, 88(4), 1099 – 1113.
Glynn, P.W. (1983). Extensive "bleaching" and death of reef corals on the Pacific coast of Panama. Environ. Conserv., 10, 149–154.
Gomez, M., Pérez-Gallardo, R. V., Sánchez, L. A., Díaz-Pérez, A. L., Cortés-Rojo, C., Carmen, M. V., Saavedra-Molina, A., Lara-Romero, J., Jiménez-Sandoval, S., Rodríguez, F., Rodríguez-Zavala, J. S., & Campos-García, J. (2014). Malfunctioning of the iron-sulfur cluster assembly machinery in Saccharomyces cerevisiae produces oxidative stress via an iron-dependent mechanism, causing dysfunction in respiratory complexes. PLoS One, 9(10),111-585.
Gong, S., Chai, G., Xiao, Y., Xu, L., Yu, K., Li, J., Liu, F., Cheng, H., Zhang, F., Liao, B., Li, Z., 2018. Flexible symbiotic associations of Symbiodinium with five typical coral species in tropical and subtropical reef regions of the Northern South China Sea. Front. Micro. Biol., 9 (2485).
Guest, J. R., Low, J., Tun, K., Wilso, B., Ng, C., Raingeard, D., Ulstrup, K. E., Tanzil, J. T. I., Todd, P. A., Toh, T. C., McDougald, D., Chou, L. M., & Steinberg, P. D. (2016). Coral community response to bleaching on a highly disturbed reef. Scientific Reports, 6, 20717, DOI: 10.1038/srep20717.
Guest, J., Baird, A., Maynard, J. A., and Muttaqin, E. (2012). Contrasting Patterns of Coral Bleaching Susceptibility in 2010 Suggest an Adaptive Response to Thermal Stress. PLoS ONE, 7(3),:e33353.
Harriott, V. J. (1999). Coral growth in subtropical eastern Australia. Coral Reefs., 18, 281 – 291.
Hoegh-Guldberg, O. (1999). Climate change, coral bleaching and the future of the world coral reefs. Marine and Freshwater Research, 50(8), 839-866.
James, M., Crabbe, C., and Smith, D. J. (2005). Sediment impacts on growth rates of Acropora and Porites corals from fringing reefs of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Coral Reefs, 24, 437–441.
Jandang, S., Chavanich, S., and Viyakarn, V. (2015). Effect of chronic salinity stress on bleaching and recovery of a Staghorn Coral Acropora millepora (Ehrenberg, 1834). In The 6th Hatyai National Conference. (pp. 1544-1553). Columbia: Hatyai University.
Jose de Jesus, A., T., Rodríguez-Troncoso, A. P., Cupul-Magaña, A. L., and Carricart-Ganivet, J. P. (2017). Calcification and growth rate recovery of the reef-building Pocillopora species in the northeast tropical Pacific following an ENSO disturbance. Peer J. DOI 10.7717/peerj.3191.
Kleypas, J. A., Danabasoglu, G., & Lough, J. M. (2008). Potential role of the ocean thermostat in. determining regional differences in coral bleaching events. Geophysical Research Letters, 35(3).
Kongjandtre, N., Senanan, W., Panithanarak, T., Chankong, A., and Putchim, L. (2020). Zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium) genetic diversity in scleractinian and alcyonarian corals in Thai waters. Final Report submitted to Research, Development and Engineering Report. Pathum Thani: National Science and Technology Development Agency. (in Thai)
Lindah, U. (2003). Coral reef rehabitation through transplantation of staghorn coral: effect of artificial stabilization and mechanical damages. Coral Reefs, 22(3), 217-223.
Loya, Y., Sakai, K., Yamazato, K., Nakano, Y., Sambali, H. and van Woesik, R. (2001). Coral bleaching: the winners and the losers. Ecol. Lett., 4, 122–131.
McClanahan, T.R. and Maina, J. (2003). Response of coral assemblages to the interaction between natural temperature variation and rare warm-water events. Ecosystems, 6, 551–563.
Muko, S., Kawasaki,K., Sakai, K., Takasu, F., and Shigesada, N. (2020). Morphological plasticity in the coral Porites sillimaniani and its adaptive significance. Bulletin of Marine Science -Miami-, 66(1), 225-239.
Mumby, P. J., Chisholm, J. R. M., Edwards, A. J., Andrefouet, S., & Jaubert, J. (2001). Cloudy weather may have saved Society Island reef corals during the 1998 ENSO event. Mar Ecol Prog Ser, 222, 209–216.
Okuboa, N., & Onuma, A. (2015). An economic and ecological consideration of commercial coral transplantation to restore the marine ecosystem in Okinawa, Japan. Ecosystem Services, 11, 39–44.
Philipp, E. & Fabricius, K. (2003). Photophysiological stress in scleractinian corals in response to short-term sedimentation. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 287(1), 57-78.
Pratchett, M.S. (2001). Influence of coral symbionts on feeding preferences of crown-oft horns starfish Acanthaster planci in the western Pacific. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 214, 111–119.
Rindengan, A.J., Pinontoan, B., Latumakulita, L.A., Mongi, C.E., Montolalu, C.E.J.C., and Langi, Y.A.R. (2019). Coral reef’s healthy level measurement system design using digital image processing on Bunaken National Sea Park IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng., 567.
Samlansin, K., Chawakitchareon, K., and Rungsupa, S. (2020). Effects of Salinity and Nitrate on Coral Health Levels of Acropora sp. Thai Environmental Engineering Journal, 34(1), 19-26.
Shaish, L., Levy, G. Katzir, G., & Rinkevich, B. (2010). Employing a highly fragmented, weedy coral species in reef restoration. Ecological engineering, 36, 1424-1432.
Thongtham, N. (2005). Development of Coral Community On Artificial Substrates at Maiton Island, Phuket. Bangkok: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. (in Thai)
Todd, P. A. (2008). Morphological plasticity in scleractinian corals. Biol. Rev, 83, 315-337.
Todd, P.A., Sidle, R. C., and Lewin-Koh, N. J. I. (2004). An aquarium experiment for identifying the physical factors inducing morphological change in two massive scleractinian corals. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 299, 97 – 113.
Udomsap,B., Chawakitchareon, P. and Rungsupa, S. (2018). The Effects of Temperature and Ammonia to Coral Health Level: A Case Study of Hump Coral (Porites sp.) at Sichang Island, Thailand. The 56th Kasetsart University Annual Conference.
Weber, M., Beer, D., Lott, C., Polerecky, L., Kohls, K., Abed, R. M., Ferdelman, T.G., Fabricius, K.E. (2012). Mechanisms of damage to corals exposed to sedimentation Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 109, 1558-1567
Weber, M., Lott, C., & Fabricius, K.E. (2006). Sedimentation stress in a scleractinian coral exposed to terrestrial and marine sediments with contrasting physical, organic and geochemical properties. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 336, 18-32
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2023-01-04
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