The multi-stage process during substrate attachment of Acropora fragments By Brett Lewis
Queensland University of Technology
S
and/or competition. Currently, asexual reproduction is central to a variety of coral reef restoration strategies.
The initial success of asexual recruitment is dictated by the speed of attachment, recovery and regrowth which help the recruits avoid mortality during the “early growth phase” - the phase when they are most susceptible to disease, sedimentation, overgrowth
Reef restoration relies on manually fragmented brood colonies (in and ex-situ) to be reared in nurseries until they form adult colonies. The adult colonies are then out-planted onto degraded reefs – allowing the corals to avoid the early growth phase. The success of restoration through nursery-grown corals is dictated by robust attachment of the colony. Despite its
ome Scleractinian corals have adapted to constant fragmentation from severe storm and wave events by way of asexual reproduction. This process sees the new fragments quickly attach to the substrate and begin to form new colonies.
Above: Backscatter SEM overlayed with confocal fluorescence microscopy image of the lappet appendage highlighting the complex morphology and sites of new skeletal formation. © Brett Lewis
30
REEF IN REVIEW
