Preliminary trial on the growth of fragments of the endangered coral <em>Acropora cervicornis<em> in a hanging nursery and pilot project experience with transplantation to the Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Parks in Caribbean Colombia

Abstract

Between 10 and 13 March 2011 a nursery for the propagation and growth of Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) was built in the vicinity of Tesoro Island (Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Natural Park, Caribean Sea, Colombia), in which 48 fragments of A. cervicornis obtained from four opportunity fragments were hung up. The coral survival percentage at nursery phase was 100 %, and growth was constant over time with exponential behavior. In August 2012, 30 colonies from the coral nursery (average length of 21.8 ± 9.8 cm) were transplanted over dead coral substrate using cement in two nearby coral areas (zones A and B); also, in October 2012 two complete lines with 24 colonies each, and average length of 43.2 ± 12.5 cm were transplanted. Six months after transplantation to the natural environment, loose colonies showed survival rates of 92.31 % in zone A and 82.35 % in zone B, and row transplantation showed 100 % survival.

Keywords

• Restauración coralina
• Guarderías de coral
• Archipiélago del Rosario
• Mar Caribe
• Colombia