"The survival, growth and live tissue status of 354 transplanted scleractinian corals were monitored over a five year period at Aua, Tutuila, American Samoa. These corals had been removed to avoid burial by temporary causeway construction, and were returned back and reattached in their general area of origin. Transplant survival approximately one year following reattachment was high (91 to 92%) in 2001; however, by 2005 survival (60 to 78%) had declined significantly. Lobate Porites species and Pocillopora eydouxi had significantly higher survival rates than small and mid-sized Pocillopora species. Transplant colonies did not fare worse than controls in terms of survival, growth and change in live tissue cover. Coral transplantation has the potential to preserve individual colonies from impending impacts. However, a broader perspective on how and whether transplants contribute to enhanced system recovery needs to be investigated"--Abstract.

Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP)
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)