New pub alert :) #CoralReports
We show that environmental variation and nutrient sources can impact mounding coral growth in Southern Belize. Thread incoming.
DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s00338…
FYI: If anyone wants the pdf please get in touch. You can also check my website for an author proof version :)
This project was a great collaboration between @DrSeaBove@FOH_Belize and I. We were supported by a team of awesome Belizean friends and colleagues without whom we would never have completed the work! Thanks to ya'll who aren't on twitter and those who are (@MoniqueVernonBz )
We performed a reciprocal transplant experiment with S. siderea and P. strigosa from offshore and nearshore reef locations. Utilizing @FOH_Belize expertise and existing restoration infrastructure (underwater tables), we were able to section, transport, and transplant corals!
We were SO lucky to have the indomitable @mlparkermedia join us for some of this work. She documented the process so well <3
We collected and sectioned 6 colonies of each species from our 2 environments (nearshore and offshore). These were each sectioned into 13 frags. 6 stayed at home, 6 were moved to the other environment, and 1 came back to UNC with us as a Time 0 control.
Isotope master @IzzyGutierrez99 is on twitter! She did greet work here. Go see what she’s up to next :)
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We ran the experiment for 17 months and took time point buoyant weight measurements at 0, 3, 9, and 17 months.
We found that corals moved nearshore grew faster in the nearshore than in their home environment and that corals moved offshore struggled to grow much at all!
In fact, nearshore corals grew faster than offshore corals regardless of where they came from.
Which left us wondering WHY???