RESTORATION GENETICS

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, Iliana Baums (Penn State University).

JOIN THE GROUP

PRIORITIES

Our priorities for the 2020-2025 timeframe include:

Provide guidance to managers for outplanting corals produced using assisted gene flow (AGF).
Provide guidance to managers and practitioners for managed breeding programs with specific regard to phenotyping.
Expand phenotyping methods and implementation for practitioners.
Track genomic resources and effort for reef restoration.
Promote self-sustaining populations of outplanted recruits.

Click here to see our full list of priorities and sub priorities.

WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON

A perspectives paper on managing expectations for selective breeding of future corals.
An evaluation of managed translocation of corals within and outside of their existing range of restoration.