[Coral-List] fragmentation

[Todd Barber]

I could not agree more with Dr. Treeck in that the ability to "base up" is
an important aspect of suitablity for fragementation.  However, we have
worked with specialized concrete bases that are capable of holding corals
that do not base.  This, of course, presumes transplanting in situ to a
stable substrate.

>From a basing stand point of view, we have found that an important aspect
for the more difficult corals is to actually embedd parts of the living
flesh into the 3 minute setting concrete we use.  This creates an injury
point which signals corals that they have been damaged.  Most corals that
naturally fragment themselfs after storms will go into a rigourous downward
growth mode (for 1-3 months) then enter a "rest" period (from 1-6 months)
then will resume branching growth.  Corals that are not in good heath before
plugging will be weakened and may die during this rigourous growth response
so it is important to start with high quality fragments.  This is one of the
reasons we use the method of taking the imperiled corals, plugging them and
returning them in situ as quickly as possible (usually less than 4 hours) so
that their are no additional stresses such as aquarium stress.  We have
found it to be unwise to attempt fragmentation with tough species during
high temperature (low D.O.) periods.  Also note that corals should not be
propogated or transplanted in situ during seasons of high algae growth as
this can be detremental to corals under stress that are less capable of
defending from overgrowth.  In general, faster growing corals are much more
sensitive to this than slower growing ones.

Thanks,

Todd Barber
Chairman, Reef Ball Foundation, Inc.
President, Reef Ball Development Group, Ltd.
6916 22nd Street West
Bradenton, FL 34207
941-752-0169 (Office)
941-752-1033 (Fax)
941-752-0338 (Personal)
941-720-7549 (Cell when traveling)

reefball at reefball.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dr. Peter van Treeck" <van_treeck at uni-essen.de>
To: "Yuri Latypov" <ltpv at stl.ru>
Cc: "coral-list" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 9:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] fragmentation


> Dear Yuri & listers,
> we have quite some experience with fragmentation and transplantation.
> Most of your requests depend on what you want to achieve.
> Minimal size depends on species, method of transplantation (e.g. cement,
> epoxy, ERCON or other methods of fixation)  and not least the location
> where the fragments /transplants are kept afterwards (field , lab ,
> husbandry etc. )
> The suitability of species for the various techniques differ
significantly.
> What I consider as an essential feature of a coral species suitable for
> transplantation is the ability  to form a new foothold such as starting
> to overgrow the new substrate.
> Many branching Acropora species do, but some do not (with our method).
> Hydrocoral Millepora is perfect in this.
> For a recolonization purpose this is one of the key issues rather than
> maximum growth.
> Please have a look at out web site and check out our references below.
> Cheers,
>  Peter
>
> Schuhmacher, H., P. van Treeck, M. Eisinger & M. Paster (2000):
> Transplantation of coral fragments from ship groundings on
> electrochemically formed reef structures. Proc. 9th Int Coral reef Symp
> Bali , Vol 2: 983 - 990
>
> van Treeck P. & H. Schuhmacher (1997): Initial survival of coral nubbins
> transplanted by a new coral transplantation technology. Mar. Ecol. Prog.
> Ser. 150: 287-292.
>
> Schuhmacher, H. (2002): Use of artificial reefs with special reference
> to the rehabilitation of coral reefs. Bonner zool. Monogr. 50: 81-108.
>
>
>
> Yuri Latypov schrieb:
>
> >Dear listers,
> >
> >Who had experience of artificial resettlement of corals by fragmentation?
> >
> >What minimal size of a colony is necessary for this purpose?
> >
> >What species have the maximal growth rate?
> >
> >Many thanks,
> >
> >Yuri Latypov
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Coral-List mailing list
> >Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> >http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
> >
> >
> >
>
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