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The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN or any of the funding organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN.

Published by: IUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group & Environment Agency-Abu

Dhabi Copyright: © 2018 IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural

Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial

purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged.

Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is

prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Soorae, P. S. (ed.) (2018). Global Reintroduction Perspectives: 2018.

Case studies from around the globe. IUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland and Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, UAE. xiv + 286pp.

6th Edition ISBN: 978-2-8317-1901-6 (PDF) 978-2-8317-1902-3 (print edition) DOI: https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2018.08.en Cover photo: Clockwise starting from top-left:

I. Reticulated python, Singapore © ACRES II. Trout cod, Australia © Gunther Schmida (Murray-Darling Basin

Authority) III. Yellow-spotted mountain newt, Iran © M. Sharifi IV. Scimitar-horned oryx, Chad © Justin Chuven V. Oregon silverspot butterfly, USA © U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service VI. Two-colored cymbidium orchid, Singapore © Tim Wing Yam VII. Mauritius fody, Mauritius © Jacques de Spéville

Cover design & layout by: Pritpal S. Soorae, IUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group Printed by: Arafah Printing Press LLC, Abu Dhabi, UAE Download at: www.iucnsscrsg.org www.iucn.org/resources/publications

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Re-establishing salvaged coral colonies in Hawaii, USA

Larissa Treese

Maui Ocean Center, 192 Ma`alaea Road, Wailuku, HI 96793, USA

ltreese@mauioceancenter.com Introduction Coral reefs offer the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem on the planet, offering home, shelter and breeding grounds to almost 25% of marine life. Anthropogenic activities are having devastating impacts on marine systems, especially coral reefs, with trophic functioning, interactions between species and a spreading loss of biodiversity. Main threats to coral reefs include: 1) increasingly potent storms with frequent run-off events which smother near-shore corals reefs and distress larvae development and settlement, 2) over-fishing of key herbivore species which disrupts the balance between coral and macro algae growth and 3) rising sea surface temperatures (SST), which lead to coral bleaching. Funds were made from multiple sources to make improvements and repairs to piers and rock groins within commercial and Small Boat Harbors on Maui, Lanai, Molokai and the Island of Hawaii. Environmental impact studies indicated a number of coral colonies living in the work zone would be jeopardized. Maui Ocean Center (MOC) was asked to participate in a first time project in Hawaii, which was to help remove the

coral colonies from pier pilings and boulders within harbors and relocate them to nearby sites so they would thrive and help maintain the ocean’s ecosystem. Main Goals x� Goal 1: Pre-assess at-risk coral colonies within the harbor and identify a potential receiving site. x� Goal 2: Conduct two different studies to determine best method for survivability of salvaged coral fragments. x� Goal 3: Establish transplantation methods that minimize stress to the corals. x� Goal 4: Manage and catalog coral species and develop a system for optimal reef transplant based on most dominant species in the receiving site. x� Goal 5: Perform follow up measurements and documentation for reporting purposes.

Porita lobate pictures taken before October 2013 (top) and after December

2014 (bottom)

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Success Indicators x� Indicator 1: Successful

removal of coral colonies that would otherwise be destroyed during demolition.

x� Indicator 2: Colonies successfully relocated and adhered using underwater epoxy to effectively bind corals to the substrate.

x� Indicator 3: GPS coordinates and photographs taken to document comparisons with results of any tissue gain or loss. 

x� Indicator 4: Provide data for future projects that may consider coral transplanting as part of an avoidance and minimization strategy. 

Project Summary Feasibility: The five project sites were located within harbors and either removed the corals from pier posts, boulders, or boat ramps. All coral species are protected under the laws of the State of Hawaii, which is one reason why this project was important. Coral species varied depending on the location of each site but included species such as Montipora capititata, Montipora patula, Pavona varians, Pocillopora damicornis, Pocillopora meandrina and Porites lobata. Some encrusting corals were fragmented then transplanted near each other at the receiving site. There were also branching corals, which were more easily removed at the base of each coral head. A key focus of the operation was to transport with minimal stress. Implementation: AECOS, Inc., Division of Natural Resources (DLNR) and MOC representatives surveyed the pier posts and boulders with coral coverage that were slated for partial demolition and removal. A plan was put into place for removal and immediate transplant of the surveyed and chosen coral colonies. Starting in 2012, over the next 1.5 years, a minimum of five MOC dive staff immediately transplanted 317 coral colonies and brought back 392 to MOC for monitoring before transplanting, resulting in a total of 709 individual coral colonies. Monitoring was implemented to compare if immediate transplant was successful versus housing the corals in a controlled environment before transplanting over a five-year timeline. The corals housed at MOC had an open system, pumps, air stones, and fluorescent lighting. Specific tools were used to minimize cross-contamination and were fed a “coral smoothie” (ingredients included Arthrospira sp., Selco, mysis) three times per week. Algae control by employees and herbivores (Ctenochaetus strigosus and Acanthurus nigrofuscus) was utilized. Corals were photographed and documented quarterly, requiring two employees each time. Post-release monitoring: Several site inspections took place at each receiving site. Three divers were needed; one to locate and clean the tags, one to measure

Dredging taking place at the receiving site

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and photograph each coral colony, and one to record the measurements. Former pictures and measurements were printed on waterproof paper along with an underwater map to help aid with location and comparison. Every tagged coral colony was inspected to determine any tissue loss or gain, mortality or obvious growth. A report was then submitted to DLNR and DOB.

Corals that were transplanted immediately had the following results: 317 coral colonies had a 56% success rate, meaning there were colonies with living tissue still present or significant growth documented. About 29% of corals were found dead on arrival and 29% were missing altogether. Corals that were housed and then transplanted had the following results: 392 coral colonies had a 32% success rate, 46% of corals were found dead on arrival and 36% were missing all together.At the Ma`alaea receiving site, 100% of Pocillopora sp., were found dead. There was complete and unexpected consumption by bioeroding corallivores like the triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus). These fish were not present at the donor site but were abundant at the receiving site. For future transplantation, if it is a viable candidate, it would be recommended to put a cage over each individual colony until it is well established. Major difficulties faced x� Natural environmental factors like worldwide bleaching events of 2014 and

2015 documented by NOAA (NOAA, 2016), sediment issues, and macro algae competition at the receiving site.

x� Dredging at the receiving site in Lahaina, Maui after corals were transplanted; need for better communication and coordination with the local government.

x� Some receiving sites were high surge areas, making it harder for the epoxy to adhere and resulting in the use of cable ties.

x� Predation of certain coral colonies (specifically P. damicornis). x� New chain mooring at the Kailua-Kona, Island of Hawai`i site subsequent to

transplant. Major lessons learned x� The need to use control corals at every site to establish a base line to compare

with environmental factors. Also create an underwater map for quicker locations of each groupings.

MOC employees doing underwater documentation of corals, tag clean up and growth comparisons

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x� More frequent site inspections. This will increase the opportunities for cleaning the coral tag numbers, making it easier to locate during future inspections.

x� The receiving site needs to be healthy enough to receive corals and absent of any compromising characteristics such as predators or high wave action.

x� Certain species were more resilient, making them more ideal for transplantation success.

x� Have public relations on land to educate the public on what is happening and the importance of salvaging corals.

Success of project Immediate transplant:

Transplant after time within facility:

Reason(s) for success/failure: x� Staff knowledgeable on handling/caring for corals. x� Inconsistent site inspections/monitoring. x� Each project lessons were learned which improved the success rate but also

compromised the consistency. x� Need dedicated resources or programs. x� Need for an outdoor nursery at MOC before transplanting to help acclimate the

corals again to more natural sunlight. References Gulko, D. (1998) Hawaiian Coral Reef Ecology. Mutual Publishers, Honolulu, Hawaii. Fenner, D. (2005) Corals of Hawai`i: A Field Guide to the hard, black, and soft corals of Hawai`i and the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, Including Midway. Mutual Publishing. Forsman ZH, Page CA, Toonen RJ, Vaughan D. (2015) Growing coral larger and faster: micro-colony-fusion as a strategy for accelerating coral cover. PeerJ 3:e1313; https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1313 AECOS, Inc, Coral Transplantation Plan Reports from 2011 - 2013. Maui Ocean Center Coral Transplantation Project Reports from 2011 - 2016.

Highly Successful Successful Partially Successful Failure

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Highly Successful Successful Partially Successful Failure

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