LARVAL PROPAGATION
Outplanting sexually propagated corals is a recent technique aimed at increasing coral cover on degraded reefs, while preserving genetic variation within recipient populations. While this approach is increasingly successful, several challenges currently prevent its application on large scales, including the high mortality rates of sexually reared recruits after they are outplanted (i.e., typically less than 5% of cultured recruits survive past the age of one year).
Research on improving coral recruit health, growth and survival in order to scale-up larval propagation for large area restoration is this working group’s overarching priority.
The working group’s Core Team is led by Chair Peter Harrison (Southern Cross University).
PRIORITIES
Our priorities for the 2020-2025 timeframe include:
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Identify criteria for broodstock selection to maximize genetic diversity and offspring fitness.
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Improve larval and recruit health and growth, both pre- and post- outplanting.
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Upscale larval propagation techniques.
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Promote self-sustaining populations of outplanted recruits.
Click here to see our full list of priorities and sub priorities.
WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON
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Published April 2023: Applying coral breeding to reef restoration: best
practices, knowledge gaps, and priority actions in a
rapidly-evolving field. -
Coral Species Fact Sheets with new graphic design (e.g., D. labyrinthiformis, M. cavernosa, S. siderea, P. porites, A. palmata).
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Version 2.0 of the Coral Spawning Research and Restoration Webinar to be hosted in early Spring 2021.
