Study

Improved sustainable maintenance for mid-water coral nursery by the application of an anti-fouling agent

  • Published source details Shafir S., Abady S. & Rinkevich B. (2008) Improved sustainable maintenance for mid-water coral nursery by the application of an anti-fouling agent. Journal Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 368, 124-128.

Summary

Small coral fragments that would die if directly transplanted during reef rehabilitation can be nursery-reared to a size suitable for transplanting. At Eilat (Red Sea Coast, Israel) some coral nurseries are located adjacent to fish farms, where although the nutrient-enriched water promoted coral growth, fouling was a problem, thus incurring increased labour costs. Unwanted organisms colonising the plastic pins on which the corals grew and the nursery frame and nets, had to be regularly removed; maintenance time for 100 coral colonies was around 1 h/month, increasing during spring algal blooms to 4 h/month. Corals and their pins also had to be cleaned before transplantation (c. 20 colonies/h). An antifouling paint was applied in an attempt to reduce fouling organisms during the crucial phase of coral development from nubbins and small fragments to sizes suitable for transplanting.

An antifouling paint employed by the fish farming industry to reduce fouling on nets (Steen-Hansen, Aqua-guard M250; active ingredient cuprous oxide) was trialled. Two coats of paint were applied by dipping the plastic coral-rearing nursery frames and/or pins into the paint. Four treatments were tested:

A - painting frames and pins before attaching the coral fragments to the pins (coral in contact with paint);

B - as for 'A', but scraping the paint off the pinheads (coral < 2 cm distant from paint);

C - painting frames only (coral > 2 cm distant from the paint);

D - controls (no paint applied).


Fragments of cluster coral Stylophora pistillata were glued to the pins and placed into PVC- framed plastic nets, 60 fragments per frame. Experimental trays were left uncleaned during the experiment but were subject to natural cleaning by fish and invertebrates. Each coral fragment on a pin was monitored and recorded as detached, dead, or partly damaged (bleached) at day 0, 31, 73, 106 and 126. At day 126 cleaning was undertaken.

After four months (126 days) the following responses were recorded:

Treatment A - 58% of coral colonies detached, 31% dead, 11% alive;

Treatment B - 8% of colonies detached, 29% dead, 62% alive;

Treatments C and D - responses were similar; 13% and 14% detachment, 4% and 1% mortality and 83% and 85% survivorship, respectively.

In terms of the final cleaning, corals under treatments 'A' and 'B' needed no cleaning other than quickly washing the trays of debris (shortening cleaning procedures by 90%). The pin tips for those under treatment 'C' needed cleaning (10 tips cleaned in about 2 min); the trays again quickly washed. The controls took about 5 min to clean 10 tips and about 15 min to remove fouling organisms from the tray.

The experiment showed that paint application by Treatment C reduced coral and nursery structure fouling to a point where maintenance was minimal and cleaning time of coral before transplanting was much reduced, whilst incurring very low (inisignificant compared to controls) coral detachment and mortality.


Note: If using or referring to this published study, please read and quote the original paper, this can be viewed at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T8F-4TK7XG5-2&_user=1495569&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000053194&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1495569&md5=ead236cf23472f773f26c3d12128f11d.


 

Output references
What Works 2021 cover

What Works in Conservation

What Works in Conservation provides expert assessments of the effectiveness of actions, based on summarised evidence, in synopses. Subjects covered so far include amphibians, birds, mammals, forests, peatland and control of freshwater invasive species. More are in progress.

More about What Works in Conservation

Download free PDF or purchase
The Conservation Evidence Journal

The Conservation Evidence Journal

An online, free to publish in, open-access journal publishing results from research and projects that test the effectiveness of conservation actions.

Read the latest volume: Volume 21

Go to the CE Journal

Discover more on our blog

Our blog contains the latest news and updates from the Conservation Evidence team, the Conservation Evidence Journal, and our global partners in evidence-based conservation.


Who uses Conservation Evidence?

Meet some of the evidence champions

Endangered Landscape ProgrammeRed List Champion - Arc Kent Wildlife Trust The Rufford Foundation Save the Frogs - Ghana Mauritian Wildlife Supporting Conservation Leaders
Sustainability Dashboard National Biodiversity Network Frog Life The international journey of Conservation - Oryx Cool Farm Alliance UNEP AWFA Bat Conservation InternationalPeople trust for endangered species Vincet Wildlife Trust