Booth Id:
EAEV009
Category:
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Year:
2020
Finalist Names:
Quinn, Mariko (School: James B. Castle High School)
Abstract:
Coral trees are tall PVC structures used to outplant small coral fragments. Coral
fragments are suspended from the branch of the structure to prevent sediment from smothering
fragments and reduce competition from algae. This gives them the opportunity to grow to larger
sizes before they are put back out on the reef to aid in restoration efforts. This technique has not
been tested with sexually reproduced specimens, however. Coral spat and larvae have a high
mortality rate, and keeping them in tanks is cost- and labor-intensive. As such, methods need to
be developed that protect coral polyps as they grow to larger sizes. It was hypothesized that coral
spat on coral trees will be more successful than those directly on the reef, as they are suspended
in the water column, protected from many dangers. P.acuta larvae were settled on tiles which
were placed onto a coral tree and on trays on the reef flat. Tiles were left in the field for 6 months
and growth and mortality were measured for both experimental conditions for assessment. The
survival rate of corals on the reef was 9% which is significantly higher than the 3% of corals on
the coral trees (p<0.0001). A low survival rate is to be expected with any restoration experiment.
The average percent growth of corals on the trees was slightly higher than that of tiles on the
reef. Therefore, the hypothesis was partially supported as the trees were only more successful in
growth, not survival.