Materials Out-planting the corals large plastic containers small bailer/container for transferring water extra weights hammers, chisels, scissors, knife tags cement (Portland II) extra fresh water for mixing cement large ziplocks heavy gloves wire brushes container for mixing cement hammers cement nails (3-4”) slates and pencils Three out-planting methodologies include using cement, pegging (nailing) ropes into substrate and tightly wedging fragments into crevices in dead reefs (Bowden-Kerby and Carne 2012). Corals are harvested from the nurseries and transported in large containers, with seawater flushing them constantly, to the out-plant sub-site.
Ideal weather and sea conditions are overcast, cool and calm waters, both for the transporting and the cement work. Corals are currently only harvested and out-planted outside of the hurricane season (December-May) to minimize stress and maximize survival rates. However we plan to explore expanding this time frame by out-planting at deeper depths. Wire brushes are used to remove turf algae from stable but dead coral heads for out-planting corals. Only Portland II cement is mixed with fresh water on the boat. This technique/recipe can only be learned by experience. Out-planted fragments are counted and recorded by species, genet, sub-site, date, etc. Site selection criteria 1.
Evidence of acroporids (dead and alive) 2. Low macro-algae cover 3. Crustose coralline cover 4. Presence of diadema 5. Presence of parrotfish/surgeon fish 6. Solid/fixed substrate (not rubble-can use domes on rubble) 7. No-Take (replenishment) zone status) 8. Accessibility (logistics for long-term monitoring) Evidence of A. cervicornis Presence of diadema and crustose coralline algae Evidence of A. palmata , presence of parrotfish, low macro-algae cover and crustose coralline. 13