First step in the restoration of a highly degraded coral reef (Singapore) by in situ coral intensive farming

Lucia Bongiorni, Donato Giovanelli, Baruch Rinkevich, Antonio Pusceddu, Loke Ming Chou, Roberto Danovaro

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

While ecological roles, ecosystem services and economic values of coral reefs worldwide are threatened by increasing anthropogenic and environmental pressures, the best management tools currently employed to offset reefs degradation do not achieve conservation objectives. There is therefore an urgent need to develop alternative instruments, focused on active management acts. In this study the applicability of an in situ coral intensive farming was tested, as first step of an active reef rehabilitation strategy, in the reefs of Singapore (China Sea, Western Pacific Ocean) that suffer from extreme sedimentation loads. About 3000 nubbins obtained from 13 coral species were farmed for 14. months in situ in two nurseries, one placed close to fish-farm pens and the other located away from the direct influence of the fish-farm effluents. After one year of mariculture, average of coral survival rates was low (34%). Survivorship (loss resulted primarily from coral detachment, not coral death) significantly differed among species, and, within each species, between nurseries. Despite the adversities imposed by the rough environmental conditions, the survived nubbins showed high growth rates. Growth and 3D architectures of farmed colonies significantly varied among coral species and nursery locations. Results reported here indicate that the first step of the coral gardening is feasible also in reefs impacted by high sedimentation rates and support the idea that future integrated coastal management programs can successfully include in situ coral mariculture.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)191-200
Number of pages10
JournalAquaculture
Volume322-323
DOIs
StatePublished - 21 Dec 2011
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was financially supported by the European Union within the framework of INCO-DEV project REEFRES (n. 510657). We thank Ms. Jani Thuaibah and Angie Seow and students from the Marine Biology Laboratory of the National University of Singapore for help with logistic, field data collection and nursery monitoring.

Keywords

  • Degraded reefs
  • In situ-mariculture
  • Nurseries
  • Reef restoration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aquatic Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'First step in the restoration of a highly degraded coral reef (Singapore) by in situ coral intensive farming'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this