Survival and Growth Rate of Acropora Species in Coral Nursery Units

Abstract

Successful coral restoration is done by putting corals of opportunities (COPs) into coral nursery units (CNUs) before transplantation. This study determined the survival percentage and growth rate of Acropora species namely A. nobilis, A. digitifera, and A. valida in the CNUs. It was conducted at Clave Island of Hundred Islands National Park, Alaminos City, Pangasinan. It employed the quasi-experimental research design. All data gathered were tabulated and statistically treated using mean, percentage, growth rate and ANOVA. The results showed that Acropora nobilis have the highest average survival percentage among the three species with 95.74 %. However, Acropora valida have the highest average growth rate among the three species with 5.53 %. It is concluded that Acropora nobilis has the highest tendency to survive, which makes it suitable coral transplantation. Acropora valida has the highest growth rate, which will ensure fast building of reefs. The hypothesis there is no significant difference among the survival percentage of the different Acropora species in the coral nursery units, is accepted. The second hypothesis there is no significant difference among the growth rate of the different Acropora species in the coral nursery units, is rejected. It is recommended that the three Acropora species be used in the coral transplantation for its high growth rate and survival percentage. Prolonging the time of this study is suggested to see the long-time effects of putting corals in nurseries and including other parameters such as water temperature, density, and salinity. Other species of corals is also suggested to be used in this study.