Can Coral Cover be Restored in the Absence of Natural Recruitment and Reef Recovery?

摘要: With many coral reef areas being degraded whether by anthropogenic or natural causes, a search is on for resilient species of corals that can restore cover where needed, if reefs are to continue provide adequate ecosystem services. A series experiments were undertaken in two sites with different environmental attributes and substrates lagoonal area the northwestern Philippines test potentials local species, Porites cylindrica, rehabilitation. use asexual fragmentation donor colonies, treatments tested, particularly determine would survive substrates, is, solid, massive versus digitate/anastomosing, dead colonies. The results after nearly 2 years experiment extraordinarily successful, survival transplants ranging from high 98% low 80% resulting extensive both original new substrate original. subsequent observation another 16 months showed have been complete experimental plots, transplanted colonies fusing, evident fish communities there none before. Had no intervention, it highly likely remained state.