[Coral-List] fragmentation/Propogation

[Todd Barber]

Hi Tonya (and List),

We are very interested in your work and we would be interested in a joint
project.  In fact, all Coral researchers automatically qualify for "Coral
Reefs Around the World Grant" approval through our Foundation
(www.reefball.org then look for Coral Reefs Grant Program).  (You could use
that as a match for what you are applying for).  Today, we don't test for
genetics but we look instead for imperiled fragments as close as possible to
the restoration site (i.e. under the assumption that closer to the area
would have better adaptations for the local area).  In some cases, we
transplant genetic clones onto single Reef Balls (so that the corals will
fuse togther making one large colony as they mature) [Genetic clones fuse,
whereas same species with different genetics do not fuse].  Sometimes, we
look for corals that exhibit (hopefully genetic) traits for cloning
(fragmentation).  For example, in Pago Pago bay (polluted) in American
Somoa, we found a single colony of Acropora near the outfall of the sewer
that seemed to be thriving well where other corals were not surviving.  We
choose this coral to propogate hoping that the trait of surviving given the
amount of pollution in the area would provide some degree of robustness.

There are a number of enhancements one could envision using genetic analysis
to achieve better restoration sites.  For example, by transplanting like
species with very different genetics close to each other, it might increase
the possiblity of a sexual spawning and release of more potential offspring.
Also, using genetics as a measure of diversity (not just species) we should
be able to better achieve the goal of a "perfect" restoration (defined as
creating "the same population densites and species diversity as natural
reefs in the same area" which with genetics we could redefine as "creating
the same genetic & population desnsities and species diversity as natural
reefs in the same area"

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: <tlsnell at buffalo.edu>
To: "Todd Barber" <reefball at reefball.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 7:23 AM
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] fragmentation/Propogation


> Dear Todd,
> I am currently finishing up my doctoral research on the genetic population
structure of
> some Caribbean hard corals.  Using data generated from this project, I
wish to apply this
> information to reef restoration in an attempt to repopulate areas with
corals of the same
> level of genetic diversity as is commonly found with these species.
Although I am not too
> familiar with the process of restoration (how many original colonies are
used, how close the
> colonies are, etc), I know that repopulating a decimated area with only a
couple of genetic
> strains will not sustain and increase population sizes in the long run.
> Next year I would like to submit grant proposals to get some funding for
this project and
> was inquiring as to whether you and your group 1) would have any use for
this type of
> application with your work, and 2) would be interested in working together
in this project
> as I will need a population of fragments to compare to natural
populations.
> Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you.  Keep up the good
work with our
> reefs!!
> Tonya
>
> Tonya Shearer
>
> University at Buffalo
> Dept. of Biological Sciences
> tlsnell at buffalo.edu
>
>
>
> Quoting Todd Barber <reefball at reefball.com>:
>
> > Hi Yuri (And Michael) & List,
> >
> > The Reef Ball Foundation has been working for several years with
> > coral > fragmentation and propogation techniques.  We have worked with a
wide
> > > variety of species including Fingers (Many species of Acroporas, and
> > > Oculina including deep water species in 250 meter+ water depth and
> > many > species of Porites), Massives (such as Faviida), Lettuce (such as
> Leptoseris
> Cucullata), Star (such as Stephanocoenia Michilini),
> > Solatary > (Caryophlliidae) [YES, we have even managed to succesfully
divide a > single
> polyp into two!), Tubes (such as as Cladocora Arbuscula),
> > Flower > (smilia fatigiata) and many species of soft and fire corals
> > (millepora > alcicornis).
> >
> > We have developed a high speed/low effort fragmentation and
> > transplant > method that involved the use of setting the corals into a
tiny
> > concrete > plug (the size of a standard 30 cc Medicine cup) in a special
pH > neutralized
> 3 minute setting concrete usually done the same day the > imperiled corals
are collected
> and then setting them onto Reef Balls
> > > that have pre-formed plug holes to fit these plugs exactly. (We use a
> > 2 > part underwater epoxy to seal the joint for better grow-out onto the
> > > substrate).
> >
> > Even with volunteers, this method has yielded high survivial rates >
(80-90%) and with
> scientists/experts we get over 95% survivial rates.
> > > The only corals that require more than a few hours to locate, plug
> > and > transplant are some species of soft corals (not the Gorgonians)
which
> > > must be grown in an aquarium for attachment to the plugs for a length
> > of > time (usually about 6 weeks).
> >
> > The BIG advantage of this method is that it requires very little >
underwater work
> time...which is one of the largest costs in doing
> > Reef > Restoration work.
> >
> > Fragment sizes vary according to the type of corals you are using.
> > With > volunteers, we limit them to fragements no larger than what fits
into
> > a > 35 MM film canister.  With experts/scientists we use larger
> > fragements > but this requires special training as larger fragments need
to be > oriented
> correctly to the currents and light source.
> > We do a 3-7 day training course for groups that plan on using these >
methods which
> includes instruction on specific coral types, coral
> > ranges > (light, temperature, etc), ethics (imperiled corals only
transplanted
> > > within 30 miles of the original source), etc. etc.
> >
> > We have done coral projects/training in Curocao, Bahamas, Maldive >
Islands, American
> Somoa, Kuwait, Oman, Indonesia, Broward County > Florida, Manatee County
Florida,
> Malaysia and used similar plug > techniques with Oysters in Maryland.
Future projects are
> planned for
> > > Antigua, Barbados, Cancun, and many others. (See our Reef Ball World
> > > Mapping System to find out about projects in your area...go to >
www.reefball.org then
> click World Mapping System).
> >
> > If we can help in any way, just let us know.
> >
> > 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: "Yuri Latypov" <ltpv at stl.ru>
> > To: "coral-list" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 4:57 AM
> > Subject: [Coral-List] fragmentation
> >
> >
> > > 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
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >