Coral gardening is a boon to Caribbean reefs

"Our study showed that current restoration methods are very effective," said biologist Stephanie Schopmeyer.
By Brooks Hays | July 25, 2017 at 7:39 PM




July 25 (UPI) -- Coral gardening works, according to new research out of the University of Miami.

In a survey of coral restoration efforts, scientists found laboratory-raised coral fragments benefit native coral species when they're used to repopulate struggling reefs. As well, the corals from which the fragments are removed don't suffer as a result.

"Our study showed that current restoration methods are very effective," lead study author Stephanie Schopmeyer, a biologist and coral expert at Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, said in a news release. "Healthy coral reefs are essential to our everyday life and successful coral restoration has been proven as a recovery tool for lost coastal resources."

In order to develop better benchmarks for coral restoration efforts, Schopmeyer and her colleagues analyzed the health of more than 1,000 Caribbean staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, colonies. The survey samples comprised 120 coral genotypes spread across six distinct geographical regions.

More:
https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2017/07/25/Coral-gardening-is-a-boon-to-Caribbean-reefs/1021501017179/?utm_source=sec&utm_campaign=sl&utm_medium=1