Cameron, Kerry, Chartrand, Katie, Cameron, Grant, Miller, Ross, Shepherd, Lloyd, Concannon, Tess, and Singleton, Tarquin (2023) Stay or spray? Evaluating larval delivery strategies in a multi-partner coral reef restoration project across Gunggandji and Yirrganydji Sea Country. In: [Presented at the Australian Marine Sciences Association Conference 2023]. From: Australian Marine Sciences Association Conference 2023: Science in Sea Country, 2-7 July 2023, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

Coral reef ecosystems are declining globally, accelerating development and uptake of coral reef restoration methodologies. Supplying coral larvae directly to natural substrata can re-establish corals on degraded coral reefs and is one of the reef restoration methods being applied through the Reef Co-operative, a new collaboration between Traditional Owners, scientists, tourism operators and a conservation group. Working together, we captured coral spawn at Moore Reef on Gunggandji Sea Country, raised the larvae until competent, then transferred 6 million to recruitment-limited Hastings Reef on Yirrganydji Sea Country for settlement. We investigated the effect of different larval delivery methods on settlement, including under two sizes of larval containment net and spraying larvae directly onto the reef with no containment. Settlement was highest when larvae were delivered under the smallest nets placed over the least irregular natural substratum. The manageable size of these nets was a positive attribute for our diverse team with varying prior experience in field work like this, but they were also the most resource intensive to produce and deploy. Our results illustrate the trade-offs between high larval settlement rates, cost-effectiveness and manageability of larval delivery methods, particularly for multi-partner projects with social as well as environmental objectives.

Item ID:	80225
Item Type:	Conference Item (Abstract / Summary)
Keywords:	Great Barrier Reef, coral larvae, coral reef, larval delivery, larval reseeding, reef restoration, assisted recovery
Date Deposited:	30 Aug 2023 01:08
FoR Codes:	41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410405 Environmental rehabilitation and restoration @ 70% 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 30%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180507 Rehabilitation or conservation of marine environments @ 80% 18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180501 Assessment and management of benthic marine ecosystems @ 20%
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