Grace completed her bachelor’s degree in Marine Science and Ecosystem Science and Policy at the University of Miami, where she worked in Dr. Lirman’s Benthic Ecology lab. During that time, she served as an underwater photographer and gained hands-on experience in coral restoration, coral husbandry, and assisting with graduate research projects. She is also a PADI Rescue Diver, with 20+ hours of coral restoration dives, and over 60 logged dives total. Now, she is pursuing her master’s by research at James Cook University, focusing on coral restoration techniques.

SeaSim Coral Spawning

2024 to 2025

Project Description

This study aims to evaluate the role of substrate positioning and light intensity on the early recruitment success of Acropora spathulata and Montipora turtlensis. Specifically, the aim is to assess how the post-settlement survival, growth, and symbiont density vary across tile orientations and light intensities. By addressing these factors, the study seeks to identify conditions that improve coral spat health and survival, leading to higher survival rates in both aquaria and natural environments following out planting, for the goal of improving the efficiency and scale of restoration efforts in the face of climate change.

Project Importance

This project is important because it addresses major challenges in coral restoration, such as the high mortality rates of coral spat in aquaria and natural environments. By investigating how tile orientation and light intensity affect coral settlement, growth, and symbiont density, the study aims to optimize conditions for coral survival in controlled settings. Understanding these factors could significantly improve the efficiency and scalability of restoration techniques, leading to healthier and more resilient coral colonies that are better equipped to withstand oncoming changes.

Project Methods

This study will test light treatments (low, high, and transitioning) and tile orientations (horizontal, vertical-dense, vertical-not dense) on larvae settlement and growth of Acropora spathulata and Montipora turtlensis. Larvae will be settled on pre-conditioned concrete plates in aquaria at SeaSim. Grazers will be present, and spat settlement, survival, and growth (measured by surface area) will be monitored periodically.
A Symbiodinium clade C1 sample was collected from Davie’s Reef and cultured for this experiment. Since M. turtlensis acquires symbionts via vertical transmission, only A. spathulata will be inoculated with C1 post-settlement. After a ~65-hour inoculation period, spat will be monitored for 16 weeks. Symbiodinium densities will be assessed at 8 and 16 weeks by scraping spat from all conditions, recording their surface area using ImageJ, and counting symbiont cells with a hemocytometer. Samples will be fixed in formaldehyde, decalcified, and homogenized for analysis.

Project Results

The desired results of this project are to identify aquaria conditions that are best for larval seeding success and coral survival. Ideally, the experimental conditions will lead to higher settlement success, juvenile survival, and out-plant survival.

Keywords

Algae,
Aquaculture,
Climate change,
Controlled Environment,
Coral reefs,
Corals,
Ecology,
Microbial,
Microbiology,
Monitoring,
Natural disturbance,
Ocean warming