Evaluation of the performance and cost-effectiveness of coral microfragments in covering artificial habitats

Mostrales, Thea Philea I.; Rollon, Rene N.; Licuanan, Wilfredo Y.

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2022.106770

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Therefore, the choice of substrate should also consider settlement and growth of competitive organisms (Leonard et al, 2022). A potential approach is to use micropropagates obtained by coral bail out in ex situ coral nurseries and leverage their rapid initial tissue growth rate, similar to current microfragment cultivation approaches (Mostrales et al 2022). Outplanting of tissue-covered chips could then supplement the re-skinning of artificial or hybrid reefs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By creating small fragments, usually between 1-4 cm 2 in size, one can generate rapid two-dimensional spreading of coral tissue at rates several orders of magnitude higher than under standard field conditions (Forsman et al, 2015(Forsman et al, , 2017. Such micro fragments are now widely used in restoration activities (Knapp et al, 2022;Tortolero-Langarica et al 2020;Mostrales et al 2022). However, as corals are modular animals that are composed of repeated 'building blocks called polyps that can bud off asexually, it is theoretically possible to seed and propagate individual polyps.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Advancing coral micropropagation for coral restoration and reef engineering

Walton,

Badder,

Galindo-Martínez

et al. 2024

Preprint

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In the face of escalating threats posed by human-induced climate change, urgent attention to coral reef restoration is imperative due to ongoing reef degradation. Here, we explored the potential of generating coral micropropagates as a tool to rapidly generate coral tissue for reef restoration and reef engineering. We developed a hypersalinity-induced polyp bailout protocol and a simple attachment device to support the growth of micropropagates on commonly used restoration substrates. We found that hypersalinity induction, at a rate of < 1 ppt hr-1, produced healthy micropropagates of the coralStylophora pistillata. The highest attachment success (∼74%) was achieved in CaCO3substrate devices, which outperformed PVC (∼5%) and Portland cement (∼48%). Settled micropropagates displayed rapid growth rates on both CaCO3(0.037 mm2/day ± 0.002 SE) and PVC (0.057 mm2/day ± 0.008 SE) substrates, while Portland cement induced tissue degradation. Our study provides a detailed methodology for reliably generating, attaching, and growing coral micropropagates and underscores the potential of polyp bailout as a viable technique supporting coral restoration and reef engineering efforts.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advancing coral micropropagation for coral restoration and reef engineering

Walton,

Badder,

Galindo-Martínez

et al. 2024

Preprint

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show abstract

“…Cement, epoxy, wire, nails, and cable ties are commonly used materials for attachment of corals to substrate (Goergen & Gilliam, 2018; Okubo et al, 2005). In hybrid approaches, engineered coral forms can be attached to the substrate, and coral fragments transplanted onto it to sheet together as they grow (Mostrales et al, 2022; Page et al, 2018). Additional work is needed to quantify benefits and limitations of different engineered materials used in coral restorations, as well as breakage stresses of corals and attachment materials.…”

Section: Coral Restoration For Coastal Protectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coral restoration for coastal resilience: Integrating ecology, hydrodynamics, and engineering at multiple scales

Viehman,

Reguero,

Lenihan

et al. 2023

Ecosphere

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The loss of functional and accreting coral reefs reduces coastal protection and resilience for tropical coastlines. Coral restoration has potential for recovering healthy reefs that can mitigate risks from coastal hazards and increase sustainability. However, scaling up restoration to the large extent needed for coastal protection requires integrated application of principles from coastal engineering, hydrodynamics, and ecology across multiple spatial scales, as well as filling missing knowledge gaps across disciplines. This synthesis aims to identify how scientific understanding of multidisciplinary processes at interconnected scales can advance coral reef restoration. The work is placed within the context of a decision support framework to evaluate the design and effectiveness of coral restoration for coastal resilience. Successfully linking multidisciplinary science with restoration practice will ensure that future large‐scale coral reef restorations maximize protection for at‐risk coastal communities.

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Underwater Quick‐Hardening Vegetable Oil‐Based Biodegradable Putty for Sustainable Coral Reef Restoration and Rehabilitation

Zych,

Contardi,

Rinaldi

et al. 2024

Advanced Sustainable Systems

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Coral reefs are threatened by climate change and the effects of human activity on the marine environment. Researchers are attempting to rescue this fragile ecosystem through coral restoration actions, and a common step in these procedures is transplanting the new coral colonies into coral reefs. To do that, commercial concrete or epoxy resins, also called putty, are utilized, highlighting different concerns about their mechanical and hardening performances and their impact and fate once released into the environment. Hence, this study presents a new biodegradable epoxidized soybean oil acrylate (ESOA)/zein‐based coral putty capable of quick hardening underwater as an ecofriendly alternative for transplantation of new coral colonies in the reef. Coral putty is composed of two components, containing one a radical initiator and the other a radical accelerator. Once the two components are mixed, coral putty becomes hard underwater in 20–25 min, showing a hardening timescale much faster than other commercial products. The coral putty is biocompatible when applied to the coral Stylophora pistillata in aquaria and Acropora tenuis corals are out‐planted on the reef in the Maldives, demonstrating how this new class of vegetable‐oil‐based materials can be a more sustainable alternative to epoxy resins commonly used in coral restoration procedures.

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Evaluation of the performance and cost-effectiveness of coral microfragments in covering artificial habitats

Cited by 6 publications

References 32 publications

Advancing coral micropropagation for coral restoration and reef engineering

Advancing coral micropropagation for coral restoration and reef engineering

Coral restoration for coastal resilience: Integrating ecology, hydrodynamics, and engineering at multiple scales

Underwater Quick‐Hardening Vegetable Oil‐Based Biodegradable Putty for Sustainable Coral Reef Restoration and Rehabilitation

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