ENHANCING CORAL GROWTH ON ARTIFICIAL REEFSBY

ELECTRO DEPOSITION REEF

ADIL MOHD

A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of

Master of Engineering (Coastal & Maritime)

Faculty of Civil Engineering

UniversitiTeknologi Malaysia

OCTOBER2012

iii  

DEDICATION

I dedicate this dissertation to my family, especially to Umi, Wafii and Wafaa……

iv  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful. I am praised to

Allah, Lord of the universe for making me able to undertake this research work.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my supervisor Prof. Dr.

Ahmad KhairiAbd. Wahab for his encouragement, invaluable suggestions, earnest

guidance and motivation

Special thanks to all of the staff at the Coastal and Offshore Engineering Institute (COEI), UniversitiTeknologi Malaysia and Dorken Reefs Resources for their help in dealing with the experimental work.

Finally my family for providing to pursue knowledge and at the same time comfort and support to achieve and succeed.

v

ABSTRACT

The global decline in reef health has prompted the need for effective reef management

methodologies, including the development of active reef restoration measures. Major causes of

coral reefs damage includeuncontrolled tourismand fishing activities. Electro Deposition Reef

(EDR) is a technique to enhance coral growth on artificialreefs by using direct current. It

hasdemonstrated to be a potential tool for the restoration of marine habitat. The development and

installation of EDR test bed was done in2004 atPerhentian Island. The test bed consisting of

Cluster A and Cluster B was located in front of the Marine Park Department Jetty. Cluster A

includes the EDR setup, while Cluster B acts as control. Cluster A consists of a 10m x 5m x

1.5m PVC frame to support the EDR structure and 10 units of concrete reefs. While, Cluster B

as a control test bed consist of 10 units of concrete reefs only. Concrete reefs deployed functions

as medium for coral to grow. These dome shaped concrete reefs were developed by a marine

contractor Dorken Reefs Resources. Coral and fish species at Cluster A and B were counted,

recorded and compared. The fish and coral assemblage on the test bed were found to be

abundant and diverse. The most abundant coral species was Acropora, and the most numerous

fish was Razor Fish.The growth rate of Acroporarecorded showed the growth of88% faster than

Control Cluster (B). The coral grew up to 75mm within 18 months compared to control cluster

rateof 40 mm for 18 months.The abundance and diversity index of fish were calculated using

Shannon Wiener Index and the results show that thefish distribution is more dominant in Cluster

Aat 2.77, compared to Cluster B, at2.46.Installation of the solar panel requires the correct

position to be achieved to obtain optimum output of voltage and current.Cloudy areas may not

get enough sun exposure. Wet climates will corrode exposed parts more quickly and the cost of

maintenance must be considered. From the results given,EDRtechnique contributes in enhancing

coral growth and created more source of food for the marine habitats.

vi

ABSTRAK

Kemusnahan batukarang di peringkat global meningkatkan keperluan pengurusan karang yang

efektif termasuk membangunkan kaedah pemuliharaan batukarang yang aktif. Antara sebab-

sebab utama batukarang musnah ialah aktiviti pelancongan dan perikanan yang tidak terkawal.

Kaedah“electro deposition reef” (EDR) ialah satu teknik untuk meningkatkan kadar

pertumbuhan batukarang dengan menggunakan tenaga elektrik arus terus. Ia telah menunjukkan

potensi untuk membantu pemuliharaan habitat marin. Pembangunan dan pemasangan lapangan

pengujian EDR telah dilakukan pada tahun 2004 di Pulau Perhentian, Terengganu. Lapangan

pengujian KlusterA dan Kluster B terletak di hadapan jeti Jabatan Taman Laut, Pulau

Perhentian. Kluster A dilengkapi dengan EDR manakala Kluster B pula bertindak sebagai

kawalan. Kluster A mengandungi satu rangka PVC bersaiz 10m x 5m x 1.5m bagimenyokon

gstruktur EDR dan 10 unit tukun konkrit. Manakala, Kluster B bertindak sebagai kawalan

dengan mempunyai 10 unit tukun konkrit sahaja. Tukun konkrit yang dilabuhkan menjadi

medium untuk karang tumbuh. Tukun konkrit berbentuk kubah ini dibangunkan oleh sebuah

syarikat marin Dorken Reefs Resources. Karang dan spesisikan di Kluster A dan B dikira,

direkod dan dibandingkan. Pelbagai sepsis batukarang dan ikan di dapati telah terhimpun di

lapangan pengujian. Acropora adalah sepsis karang yang paling dominan, manakala ikan yang

paling banyak mengunjungi lapangan pengujian ialah Razor Fish. Kadar pertumbuhan Acropora

direkodkan dan keputusannya menunjukkan ianya tumbuh 88% lebih pantas berbanding kadar

pertumbuhan di Kluster Kawalan (B). Karang tersebut tumbuh 75mm dalam masa18 bulan

manakala kadar pertumbuhan di Kulster Kawalan ialah 40mm selama 18 bulan. Bilangan dan

kepelbagaian ikan dikira menggunakan Shannon Wiener Index dan didapati ikan lebih

mendominasi Kluster A iaitu 2.77 berbanding Kluster B dengan 2.46. Pemasangan panel solar

perlu dilakukan pada posisi yang sesuai bagi mendapatkan nilai voltan dan arus yang paling

optima. Kawasan yang dilindungi oleh awan akan kurang memperolehi cahaya matahari.

Manakala cuaca yang lembab akan menyebabkan peralatan mudah karat dan kos bagi membaik

pulih perlu diambil kira. Daripada keputusan yang diperolehi, kaedah EDR terbukti

meningkatkan kadar pertumbuhan karang dan juga sumber makanan kepada hidupan marin.

ix  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

DECLARATION ii DEDICATION iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv ABSTRACT v ABSTRAK vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ix LIST OF TABLES xi LIST OF FIGURES xiii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xvi LIST OF SYMBOLS xvii 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Problem Statement 1 1.2 Research objectives 3 1.3 Scope and Task 3 1.4 Significance of the study 4 1.5 Thesis Outline 5

2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction 6 2.2 Coral Reef Restoration Techniques 10

2.2.1 Biorock 15 2.2.2 Fixed and Suspended Coral Reef Nurseries 19

2.2.3 Rope Nurseries

22

2.2.4 Coral Reef Restoration in Malaysia 27 2.3 Electrochemical Reaction 31

2.3.1 The Anodic Reaction 33 2.3.2 The Cathodic Reaction 35 3 EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND

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PROCEDURE 3.1 Introduction 40 3.2 Laboratory Setup 42 3.3 On Site Setup 44 3.4 Cluster Location 48 3.5 Solar Panel 49

3.5.1 Solar Panel Setup 50 3.5.2 Solar Controller 51 3.5.3 Solar Battery Charger 54

3.6 Environmental Parameters Meters 57 3.7 Measurement of Environmental Parameters 62

4 RESULTS 4.1 Laboratory Results 64 4.2 On Site Results 67 4.3 Fish Distribution in EDR Test Bed. 90

5 CONCLUSIONS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Conclusions 91 5.2 Recommendation for Future Research Works 94

REFERENCES 96

xi  

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE NO

TITLE PAGE

2.1 Minimum parameters for healthy coral reefs

14

3.1 Technical specifications for solar controller

53

3.2 Specifications for the solar battery charger

56

4.1 Laboratory test results 65

4.2 Summary of activities done during monitoring 71 4.3 Average Physico-chemical parameters of study

site during the study period (April 2008 - October

2009)

72

4.4 Coral species observed at Cluster A and B. 73

4.5 The abundance and diversity of coral samples at

Cluster A

77

4.6 The abundance and diversity of coral samples at

Cluster B

78

4.7 Comparison of Acropora sp. growth in Cluster A

and B

79

4.8 The picture of fish that have been observed in the

artificial reefs.

82

4.9 The abundance and diversity of fishes 86

xii  

4.10 Average diversity index of fish for Cluster A

87

4.11 Average diversity index of fish for Cluster B

88

4.12 Average diversity index of total fish species

89

5.1 Electrochemical force series 95

xiii  

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE NO

TITLE PAGE

2.1 Coral reefs at risk from human activities. 10

2.2 Threats to the world coral reefs. 11

2.3 Biorock

17

2.4 Schematic illustration of the fixed and suspended coral reefs nurseries. (A) Suspended nursery (B) Leg-fixed nursery, (C–D) Nurseries' modular units.

20

2.5 Results from fixed and suspended coral reef nurseries 21

2.6 The three rope nursery prototypes. (A and B) The

floating and tied to bottom nurseries housed only two

species, and (C) fixed to bottom

23

2.7 Rope nurseries results

26

2.8 Hex Reefs deployed in PulauTioman

27

2.9 (a) Dome Reef (b) Enviro Reefs

28

2.10 Atom structure 32

2.11 Anodic reaction 33

2.12 Anodic sites on surface of iron exposed to seawater 34

xiv  

2.13 Cathodic reaction 35

2.14 Cathode reaction into the electrolyte. 36

2.15 Ionization circuit 37

3.1 Bio rock; Coral reef not naturally growth but tied with

cable

41

3.2 EDR: Coral reefs naturally growth at cathode and

artificial reefs.

41

3.3 Laboratory setup for EDR testing 43

3.4 Aerial view of the test bed location. 44

3.5 Concrete reefs construction 45

3.6 Cluster A (a) side, (b) top view and (c) on site test bed 46

3.7 Cluster B (a) side, (b) top view and (c) on site test bed 47

3.8 Cluster locations 48

3.9 Solar panel setup 50

3.10 Solar panel installed at the roof top of marine park jetty 51

3.11 Solar controller 53

3.12 Solar battery 55

3.13 Site marking by diver 57

3.14 Frame assembly 58

3.15 Solar panel installation 58

3.16 Concrete reef deployment 59

3.17 Concrete reefs attached with copper and the underwater

cable direct to solar panel.

60

3.18 Test bed deployment 60

3.19 Schematic diagram of EDR test bed 61

3.20 Multi probe for water quality measurement 63

4.1 Closed up on calcium carbonate deposited at cathode on

lab test

67

xv  

4.2 Comparison of Cluster A and B growth rate of Acropora 81

5.1 Initial substrate. 92

5.2 Broken corals caused by snorkelers, swimmers and

divers.

92

5.3 Acroporagrowth rate is75mm in 2 years 93

xvi  

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

EDR - Electro Deposition Reefs

LED - Light Emitting Diode

Amp - Ampere

Volt. - Voltage

PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride

PWM - Pulse Width Modulation

MPPT - Maximum power point tracking

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

ORP - Oxidation Reduction Potential

TDS Total Dissolved Solids

EC Conductivity

DO Dissolved Oxygen

xvii  

LIST OF SYMBOLS

m - Meter

mm - Millimetre

pH - Hydrogen ion activity in solution

W - Watts

I - Current

V - Volt

mg - milligram

ℓ - litre

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Problem Statement

Coral reefs, the rain forests of the sea, are undergoing a worldwide decline.

Global changes and continuous intense abuse of reefs by human are the main factors for

this decline. Adverse anthropogenic activities such as over-fishing, recreational

activities, waste discharge, deforestation, reef mining and dredging have all been listed

as primary causes for this degradation. The decline of coral reefs raised the need for

adequate restoration methodologies as efforts to conserve degrading reefs have failed to

produce significant results and rehabilitation measures have not compensated for the

rapid reef degradation.

A World Bank report in 2006 [1] on coral reefs identified this ecosystem as the

highest priority area for conservation, especially in countries with an economic

2

dependence on coral reefs. This concern is further supported by reports discussing the

ecological and socio-economic issues of worldwide reef degradation [1].

The fast degradation of coral reefs has prompted greater attention to remediation

and restoration activities. In Southeast Asia some of the status of the reef has reached a

critical point of reduced resilience forcing active restoration measures. However,

established theories and approved management and restoration techniques for marine

ecosystems, including coral reefs are still lagging behind and rely largely on those

developed for terrestrial habitats [1].

As a result, the principles underlining reef restoration measures have become

part of the many ill-defined issues of this discipline. The fast worldwide reef degradation

has invoked discussions on suitable restoration measures to be applied as management

tools supplementary to the traditional conservation measures [1].

Various approaches have been proposed including construction of artificial reef

structures, the transplantation of entire coral colonies or fragments and the concept of

‘‘coral gardening’’ by means of underwater nurseries. Until recently, attempts to restore

degraded reef areas were based on whole colony transplantation in which dead coral

colonies are replaced with new ones in order to accelerate natural recovery. However,

harvesting corals for transplantation usually abuse and inflict trauma to the donor reefs

while survival and growth of the transplants are left to the mercy of conditions within

the damaged reef site [1]

To alleviate coral reef degradation, a two-type restoration and enhancing coral

growth protocol termed ‘‘Electro-deposition Reefs’’ (EDR) is proposed. For the test bed,

two clusters of engineered reef were constructed and deployed at the Pulau Perhentian,

3

Marine Park in Terengganu. Cluster A was installed with Electro deposition Reefs and

Cluster B acts as the control unit. All units were deployed at the same water depth of 8m

during high tide.

This thesis presents the findings on the performance of the Electro Deposition

Reefs where coral growth and fish distribution were recorded over an 18 months period.

1.2 Research Objectives

 The objectives of this project are as follows;

 1. To investigate the effectiveness of ‘‘Electro-deposition Reefs’’ to accelerate

coral growth.

2. To monitor the coral growth rate and fish distribution at two clusters of test

bed installed at site.

1.3 Scope and Task

This research works involve:

1. Development and deployment of “Electro-deposition Reefs technique’’ at the

research site for the coral to grow.

2. Monitoring and comparing the rate of coral growth between the EDR Cluster and

the Control Cluster.

3. Observing and recording the fish distribution at the EDR Cluster and the Control

Cluster.

4

The prototype and test bed for concrete reef with EDR method was developed

and deployed at Pulau Perhentian in April 2008. The EDR method setup uses solar

panel at 12 volt and 0.4 Ampere and connected to the concrete reefs copper cage and

titanium as conductor. Comparison for the rate of acceleration will be quantified.

Data collection on the effectiveness of the EDR method to enhance self accretion

and act as substrate for coral growth will be recorded. Diversity including type,

number of coral and fish around the test beds will be observed and recorded.

1.4 Significance of the study

Expected findings from this research are:

1. A novel way of using EDR technique to enhance coral growth. EDR setup

expected to propagate coral growth especially Acropora sp which the structure

construct by calcium carbonate. The growth rates of this species will be recorded

along the project.

2. Recommendations of suitable electrochemical reaction series of metal for

deployment of manmade coral habitat. From the series, improved method can be

suggested for future project. The test bed developed using the suitable

electrochemical series expected to be a sustainability food chain for marine life.

5

1.5 Thesis Outline

This thesis is organized into 5 chapters to completely cover the whole research

works that have been conducted covering the development, deployment and monitoring

of an “Electro-deposition Reefs system ’’ to accelerate coral growth.

Chapter 2 reports on the literature review of the EDR method. There is a need for

extensive and continuative investigation either via laboratory or experimental approach.

Chapter 3 provides a description of the experimental testing on site. The experimental

facility, setup and procedures for this study are described.

Results of this study are reported in Chapter 4, including the observations recorded,

assessment of the test results and assessment of the particular factors that influence

acceleration rate for coral growth using the “Electro-deposition Reefs system”. Finally,

in Chapter 5 the contribution of this thesis are summarized and recommendations for

future works are given.

96

 

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