OPTIMAL SITES FOR CORAL TRANSPLANTATION By Melissa Olson and Julia-Ann Reyes FINAL REPORT McGill University, Bellairs Research Institute Barbados Field Study Semester Folkestone, St. James, Barbados David G. Elkhorn Coral. [digital image]. Retrieved December, 2016, from http://oceandoctor.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/IMG_1032.jpg
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OPTIMAL SITES FOR CORAL TRANSPLANTATION
By Melissa Olson and Julia-Ann Reyes
FINAL REPORT
McGill University, Bellairs Research Institute Barbados Field Study Semester Folkestone, St. James, Barbados
David G. Elkhorn Coral. [digital image]. Retrieved December, 2016, from http://oceandoctor.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/IMG_1032.jpg
The Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) is currently operating a coral cultivation facility at the Bellairs Research Institute under a loan agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). This project will soon be taken over by the Coral Reef Restoration Alliance (CORALL)
BACKGROUND
Carlee M. (2014). Folkestone Marine Park. [digital image]. Retrieved December, 2016, from http://www.carleemcdot.com/2014/04/huntes-gardens-barbados.html
BELLAIRS CORAL RESEARCH LAB
Ø Coral was fragmented off the reef and placed in the lab
Ø Three different species of coral
are growing currently Ø The corals are monitored daily
Ø The goal is to transplant the corals this December
What is happening in the Bellairs Coral Research Lab?
Amy Cox. Bellairs Research Institute Coral Lab. [digital image]. Retrieved December, 2016, from https://www.facebook.com/CORALLBarbados/photos
QUESTION: Where is the best place for corals to be transplanted? Ø What parameters do we test for? Ø How does the in situ environment compare to the in vitro
environment?
The Nature Conservancy. Elkhorn Coral. [digital image]. Retrieved December, 2016, from https://global.nature.org/content/natures-premium-the-insurance-industry-and-climate-risk
WHAT PRESSURES ARE AFFECTING MODERN CORAL REEFS? • Ocean Acidification (OA) due to high concentrations of Carbon Dioxide • Eutrophication due to high nutrient run off (Phosphorous and Nitrogen) • Over fishing • Destructive fishing practices • Sunscreens • Dredging for ports and harbors • Onshore development
MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency. Sargassum bloom are ruining Caribbean beaches and tourism season. [digital image]. Retrieved December, 2016, from http://en.mercopress.com/2015/08/12/sargassum-bloom-are-ruining-caribbean-beaches-and-tourism-season
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION The process of OA explained…
2
Melissa O. (2016) Process of Ocean Acidification. [drawing]
pH ê Acidity é
pH é Acidity ê
Ø Changes in pH are difficult to measure. Instead, we can look at how the corals are growing Ø Net Ecosystem Calcification (NEC) rate
Ø How do we measure NEC rates? Ø Measure the Total Alkalinity (TA)
Ø Total Alkalinity = the basicity of sea water
HOW DO WE MEASURE OA?
Ethan D. (2015). A field of staghorn corals (Acropora sp.). [digital image] Retrieved December, 2016, from https://www.carbonbrief.org/new-satellite-reveals-places-on-earth-most-at-risk-from-ocean-acidification
EUTROPHICATION Nutrient lab tests and their explanations
How does our nutrient data compare to optimal levels?
DISCUSSION
= Rainfall = Phosphorous = Nitrogen
Why do we see such variability among nutrient data?
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
Rainfall (m
m)
Inside Reserve: Rainfall vs. Time
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
Rainfall (m
m)
Outside Reserve : Rainfall vs. Time
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
1.2 1.4
Rainfall (m
m)
Mullins Bay: Rainfall vs. Time
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Nutrie
nt Value
(ppb
)
Inside Reserve: Nutrient Levels vs. Time
0
50
100
150
200
250
Nutrie
nt Value
(ppb
)
Outside Reserve: Nutrient Levels vs. Time
0
100
200
300
400
500
Nutrie
nt Value
(ppb
)
Mullins: Nutrient Levels vs. Time
RESULTS nTA at all sites
Ø TA is normalized to a reference salinity value so we can compare across all sites as nTA Ø Error bars represent standard deviation Ø No significant differences among three sites
= Inside Reserve = Outside Reserve = Mullins
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000 nT
A
Average nTA for All Sites
DISCUSSION ∆nTA and NEC rates among all sites
-‐140
-‐120
-‐100
-‐80
-‐60
-‐40
-‐20
0
∆nTA
∆nTA Between Offshore & Reefs for All Sites
= Inside Reserve = Outside Reserve = Mullins
Ø ∆nTA = nTA (offshore) – nTA (reef) Ø All reefs have a negative ∆nTA meaning Net Dissolution and a negative NEC rate
CONCLUSIONS Nutrient Data: Ø Differences in nutrient levels are
negligible across sites Ø Phosphorous and Nitrogen are above
standard levels Ø There is a correlation between rainfall
and Phosphorous/Nitrogen levels Ø Future transplantation sites need
to consider drainage
Ø We cannot determine the best site based on this nutrient data
Jennifer H. (2016). Elkhorn Coral, Na?onal Geographic. [digital image]. Retrieved December 2016, from hMps://socialmediafeed.me/ig/photo/BMgkQUsDa8r
CONCLUSIONS TA Data: Ø No significant differences for nTA among
all reefs Ø Negative NEC rates (Net Dissolution) at
all sites suggest that no site is optimal for transplantation
Ø Further research will have to be conducted in order to decide the ideal location for coral transplantation
Ø Examine future land use Ø Measure Dissolved Inorganic Carbon Ø Measure TA and DIC at more varied
times Ø Test in situ data within the Bellairs
mesocosm
David J. (2015). Great Barrier Reef Australia. [digital image]. Retrieved December, 2016, from http://www.2012un-nouveau-paradigme.com/2015/03/decouverte-le-corail-mange-nos-plastiques-et-ne-peut-le-digerer.html
NOAA. What Can I do to Protect the Coral Reefs?. [infographic]. Retrieved December, 2016, from hMp://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/thingsyoucando.html
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mentors:
Dr. Alyson M. Allen Dr. Emma Smith
Coral Reef Restoration Alliance (CORALL)
Susan Mahon Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU)
Ramon Roach
Inter American Development Bank’s Multi-Lateral Investment Fund