Tracking growth and survival of rescued boulder corals

Abstract

Patterns of survivorship and growth of rescued boulder corals from two vessel groundings in Biscayne National Park, Homestead, Florida, U.S.A., were evaluated over 5 years and compared to nearby undamaged reference corals. The rescued colonies had been dislodged but reattached in situ 10–12 years later (hereafter termed “restored” corals). Change in live coral tissue area was assessed using novel contoured tissue measurements which proved useful in detecting small changes in tissue area for slow‐growing coral species. At the initial survey, restored boulder corals had a higher level of partial mortality (33.8 ± 3.1%, mean ± SE) relative to reference corals (19.9 ± 2.5%), likely a result of prolonged detachment. During the course of the 5‐year monitoring period, whole‐colony mortality was greater for restored corals (13.1%) compared to reference corals (3.3%). For surviving corals, restored coral growth and recent mortality rates were similar to reference corals even though restored corals, especially those of Dichocoenia stokesii, had greater disease prevalence (19.7%) than reference corals (6.6%). These results suggest that dislodged boulder coral rescue following an acute disturbance can be an effective tool in stemming tissue loss. If dislodged corals were reattached in a more timely manner, we predict that the survival and tissue growth would be greater.