Review: Current trends in coral transplantation – an approach to preserve biodiversity

MOHAMMED SHOKRY AHMED AMMAR (National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Hydrobiology Department, P.O. Box 182, Suez, Egypt.)
FAHMY EL-GAMMAL (National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), P.O. Box 182, Suez, Egypt.)
MOHAMMED NASSAR (National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), P.O. Box 182, Suez, Egypt.)
AISHA BELAL (National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), P.O. Box 182, Suez, Egypt.)
WAHID FARAG (National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), P.O. Box 182, Suez, Egypt.)
GAMAL EL-MESIRY (National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), P.O. Box 182, Suez, Egypt.)
KHALED EL-HADDAD (National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), P.O. Box 182, Suez, Egypt.)
ABDELNABY ORABI (National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), P.O. Box 182, Suez, Egypt.)
ALI ABDELREHEEM (National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), P.O. Box 182, Suez, Egypt.)
AMGAD SHAABAN (National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), P.O. Box 182, Suez, Egypt.)

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity
Vol. 14 No. 1 (2013)

Ammar MSA,El-Gammal F, Nassar M, Belal A, Farag W, El-Mesiry G, El-Haddad K, Orabi A, Abdelreheem A, Shaaban A. 2013. Review: Current trends in coral transplantation – an approach to preserve biodiversity. Biodiversitas 14: 43-53. The increasing rates of coral mortality associated with the rise in stress factors and the lack of adequate recovery worldwide have urged recent calls for actions by the scientific, conservation, and reef management communities. This work reviews the current trends in coral transplantation. Transplantation of coral colonies or fragments, whether from aqua-, mariculture or harvesting from a healthy colony, has been the most frequently recommended action for increasing coral abundance on damaged or degraded reefs and for conserving listed or “at-risk” species. Phytoplanktons are important for providing transplanted corals with complex organic compounds through photosynthesis. Artificial surfaces like concrete blocks, wrecks or other purpose-designed structures can be introduced for larval settlement. New surfaces can also be created through electrolysis. Molecular biological tools can be used to select sites for rehabilitation by asexual recruits. Surface chemistry and possible inputs of toxic leachate from artificial substrates are considered as important factors affecting natural recruitment. Transplants should be carefully maintained, revisited and reattached at least weekly in the first month and at least fortnightly in the next three months. Studies on survivorship and the reproductive ability of transplanted coral fragments are important for coral reef restoration. A coral nursery may be considered as a pool for local species that supplies reef-managers with unlimited coral colonies for sustainable management. Transplanting corals for making artificial reefs can be useful for increasing biodiversity, providing tourist diving, fishing and surfing; creating new artisanal and commercial fishing opportunities, colonizing structures by fishes and invertebrates, aving large corals during the construction of a Liquified Natural Gas Plant.