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severely damaged as a result of the three major
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raig Quirolo.The Reef Relief Coral Nursery established at Western Sambo Reef after the 1998 Ground Hog Day Storm stabilized 49 pieces of broken Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata). Elkhorn lacks the ability that other coral species have to slough off sediment that may accumulate on it. Elkhorn coral flourishes in the shallow, high energy zones of coral reefs, where the wave action keeps it clean. When a storm-damaged fragment of Elkhorn coral is rolled around and the living tissue settles face down in the sand, the chances of survival are slim. The Coral Nursery project was able to successfully salvage pieces of storm damaged coral that had little hope for survival.
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| This image of the rare Fused staghorn coral (Acropora prolifera) was taken after Hurricane Georges; it had survived the hurricane. This is one of the only remaining colonies at Keys reefs. The impacts from Tropical Storm Mitch were very severe on the Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) at Rock Key Reef as well. Reef Relief has extensive chronological data covering this area and it indicates that the entire area was severely damaged as a result of the three major storms in 1998. Photo by Craig Quirolo. |
Harold Hudson, restoration biologist for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (fknms), designed the Acropora rosette method that was utilized to stabilize fragments of Elkhorn for the Reef Relief Coral Nursery. One of the biggest lessons that we learned from this project is the need for rapid response to storm events on the coral reef. Coral recovery is increased when the broken fragments are stabilized shortly after they are broken.
Little did we know that this first attempt at creating a Coral Nursery was only a test. The aftermath of Hurricane Georges left a legacy that has not been fully acknowledged to this day. Rock Key Reef lost the majority of its living Elkhorn coral as well as the rare Fused staghorn (Acropora prolifera) that was flourishing there. Well over 50% of the Elkhorn coral at Western Sambo Reef has been lost.
All of the Acropora rosettes in the coral nursery were scheduled to be transferred to a nearby grounding site by a fkmns restoration team. Because of this Reef Relief was requested to temporarily secure the rosettes to the ocean floor using large stainless steel spikes. This would allow for easy removal of the pads. Unfortunately the transfer of the rosettes never happened and they were left to face the brunt of Hurricane Georges precariously attachment to the ocean floor. Until the wrath of the Hurricane Georges 90% of the coral fragments in the nursery were responding favorably and exhibited new growth. Shortly after the hurricane Reef Relief volunteers located all of the fifteen Acropora Rosettes. Nine pieces out of forty nine survived, an 80% mortality. With a renewed effort 54 new coral fragments (victims of Georges) were stabilized on the old Acropora Rosettes by the Reef Relief team, this brought the total number of subjects to 63. However, even the small cement welds were considered temporary. In the wake of the hurricane there were so many damaged pieces of Elkhorn coral at Western Sambo reef that I surmised that we needed at least fifteen more rosettes at this site. We had assembled 32 additional coral fragments in the staging area only to learn that we were denied permission to increase the size of the Nursery. It was beyond our comprehension why we could not save any more coral, this order came from the supervisor of the fknms. We were using a fknms design. We had communicated every day with fknms biologists. We had the dive team on the site with cement pads waiting for approval. Because we had already shuttled 32 pieces of broken coral to the staging area I felt that we owed it to these pieces of coral to do more than let them die. In a "last ditch" type of effort we cemented these pieces to a nearby boulder outcropping that apparently withstood the hurricane. The comparison of these fragments (elevated above the sea floor) attached to the boulder, to the growth of the fragments on Rosettes (located on the sea floor) is very interesting. We will be releasing this study toward the end of the summer.
On November 3, Tropical Storm Mitch passed over the Keys once again disturbing the already compromised coral reefs. Three Rosettes disappeared and are assumed buried in rubble. All of the coral fragments attached to the boulder survived and appear to be in excellent health.
The Lower Florida Keys was not the only place where Elkhorn coral was lost this past summer. The coral reefs in Belize, the second longest coral barrier reef in the world, took a severe hit from Hurricane Mitch, with substantial losses to their shallow Elkhorn coral. Because this could represent a major loss to the extent of this species in the Caribbean Basin, it is imperative that we protect and save as much of it as we possibly can. Coral nurseries should be established throughout the Caribbean and the old dogma of not doing so because we are manipulating nature disregarded. We are manipulating nature every day in numerous ways through point and non-point source pollution. Volunteer participation in widely-supported coral restoration programs should be encouraged and permitted. The current policies discourage interested parties from getting involved.
We are currently reviewing all of the video recordings and still images from the Elkhorn coral zones at Western Sambo and Rock Key (that are part of the ongoing Reef Relief Photo Monitoring Survey) to determine the loss of coral in those areas after the three major storms of 1998. Preliminary indications suggest that massive losses have been sustained by the Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) on these reefs.
All Coral Nursery Photos by Craig Quirolo.
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