MarineLab's Coral Restoration Site
March 2010 The extreme cold weather experience throughout the Keys this past winter had a devastating effect on MarineLab's Coral Restoration Site. We hope to repopulate the site during our Coral Restoration Workshop on July 30 - August 1.
September 2009 On September 12th and 17th, 8 months after the initial transplant, MarineLab staff visited the site of our coral restoration project. The data collected has shown that, overall, the Staghorn corals have almost tripled in size! Shown below is a photo of Nubbin #30. The survival rate of our transplanted corals is approximately 67%, with one genotype falling victim to White Band Disease. However, the surviving corals of that genotype actually grew the most! We will consider taking cuttings from that surviving genotype and replanting the dead sites. Overall, this project has been a success for us and we are proud of our efforts to make a positive impact on the ocean. For a full gallery of the photos from the follow up visits on September 12 and 17, click here. To find out how you can help, visit the Coral Restoration Foundation website at www.coralrestoration.org.
Many of our staff have now become Team Leaders for the Coral Restoration Foundation and help out with projects and groups.
Baby # 30, January 2009 |
Number 30, 8 months later! |
In January of 2009, MarineLab/Marine Resources Development Foundation joined the Coral Restoration Foundation's efforts to grow and transplant corals by adopting its own Restoration Site. Staff members participated in every step of the restoration effort, starting with attaching staghorn fragments to concrete disks in the nursery, brushing algae and debris surrounding fragments already growing in the nursery, and hand-carrying and transplanting larger fragments to the designated restoration site.
The basic premise is that staghorn grows fairly quickly and numerous smaller colonies can be started from fragments of a larger colony. Fragments are attached to cement disks using epoxy. These disks are then attached to concrete blocks in the nursery. After a period of time in the nursery, the disks with the larger fragments are removed from the concrete blocks and taken to the selected restoration site. These are then attached, again with epoxy, to the limestone substrate. The disc and base of the fragments are also surrounded with epoxy (avoiding any live polyps) to ensure a secure attachment. All transplanted corals are labeled and numbered so they can be measured and monitored.
We'll be going back to check on our restoration site in September, so we'll have pictures then!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |