Bruckner Andrew W, Borneman Eric H
Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, Landover, Maryland 20978, USA.
Rev Biol Trop. 2010 Oct;58 Suppl 3:111-27.
In June, 2002, the government of Dominica requested assistance in evaluating the coral culture and transplantation activities being undertaken by Oceanographic Institute of Dominica (OID), a coral farm culturing both western Atlantic and Indo-Pacific corals for restoration and commercial sales. We assessed the culture facilities of OID, the condition of reefs, potential impacts of coral collection and benefits of coral transplantation. Coral reefs (9 reefs, 3-20 m depth) were characterized by 35 species of scleractinian corals and a live coral cover of 8-35%. Early colonizing, brooders such as Porites astreoides (14.8% of all corals), P. porites (14.8%), Meandrina meandrites (14.7%) and Agaricia agaricites (9.1%) were the most abundant corals, but colonies were mostly small (mean = 25 cm diameter). Montastraea annularis (complex) was the other dominant taxa (20.8% of all corals) and colonies were larger (mean = 70 cm). Corals (pooled species) were missing an average of 20% of their tissue, with a mean of 1.4% recent mortality. Coral diseases affected 6.4% of all colonies, with the highest prevalence at Cabrits West (11.0%), Douglas Bay (12.2%) and Coconut Outer reef (20.7%). White plague and yellow band disease were causing the greatest loss of tissue, especially among M. annularis (complex), with localized impacts from corallivores, overgrowth by macroalgae, storm damage and sedimentation. While the reefs appeared to be undergoing substantial decline, restoration efforts by OlD were unlikely to promote recovery. No Pacific species were identified at OID restoration sites, yet species chosen for transplantation with highest survival included short-lived brooders (Agaricia and Porites) that were abundant in restoration sites, as well as non-reef builders (Palythoa and Erythropodium) that monopolize substrates and overgrow corals. The species of highest value for restoration (massive broadcast spawners) showed low survivorship and unrestored populations of these species were most affected by biotic stressors and human impacts, all of which need to be addressed to enhance survival of outplants. Problems with culture practices at OID, such as high water temperature, adequate light levels and persistent overgrowth by macroalgae could be addressed through simple modifications. Nevertheless, coral disease and other stressors are of major concern to the most important reef builders, as these species are less amenable to restoration, collection could threaten their survival and losses require decades to centuries to replace.
2002年6月，多米尼克政府请求协助评估多米尼克海洋学研究所（OID）正在开展的珊瑚养殖和移植活动。该珊瑚养殖场养殖西大西洋和印度 - 太平洋珊瑚，用于恢复和商业销售。我们评估了OID的养殖设施、珊瑚礁状况、珊瑚采集的潜在影响以及珊瑚移植的益处。珊瑚礁（9个珊瑚礁，深度3 - 20米）的特点是有35种石珊瑚，活珊瑚覆盖率为8 - 35%。早期定殖的珊瑚，如星孔珊瑚（占所有珊瑚的14.8%）、多孔珊瑚（14.8%）、曲折牡丹珊瑚（14.7%）和扁脑珊瑚（9.1%）是数量最多的珊瑚，但群体大多较小（平均直径 = 25厘米）。环纹菊珊瑚（复合体）是另一个优势类群（占所有珊瑚的20.8%），群体较大（平均 = 70厘米）。珊瑚（混合物种）平均缺失20%的组织，近期死亡率平均为1.4%。珊瑚疾病影响了所有群体的6.4%，在卡布里茨西部（11.0%）、道格拉斯湾（12.2%）和椰子外礁（20.7%）患病率最高。白瘟病和黄带病造成的组织损失最大，尤其是在环纹菊珊瑚（复合体）中，同时受到珊瑚捕食者、大型藻类过度生长、风暴破坏和沉积的局部影响。虽然珊瑚礁似乎正在大幅衰退，但OID的恢复努力不太可能促进其恢复。在OID的恢复地点未发现太平洋物种，但移植后存活率最高的物种包括在恢复地点数量丰富的短命早期定殖珊瑚（扁脑珊瑚和星孔珊瑚），以及垄断基质并覆盖珊瑚的非造礁珊瑚（沙群海葵和红指软珊瑚）。对恢复最有价值的物种（大型散播产卵珊瑚）存活率较低，这些物种未恢复的种群受生物压力源和人类影响最大，所有这些都需要解决以提高移栽珊瑚的存活率。OID养殖实践中的问题，如水温高、光照水平适宜和大型藻类持续过度生长，可以通过简单的改进来解决。然而，珊瑚疾病和其他压力源是最重要的造礁珊瑚主要关注的问题，因为这些物种不太适合恢复，采集可能威胁它们的生存，而损失需要数十年到数百年才能恢复。
