Evaluation of demographic indicators of Pocillopora (Scleractinia: Pocilloporidae) in island vs. coastal sites: Implications for a regional restoration program.

Abstract

Introduction: The maintenance of the coral communities depends directly on the capacity of the individuals to grow as a whole colony. Since growth shapes the basis of the physical structure of the reef, determining the growth rate of builder coral-species and their response to environmental variations will allow us to identify their particular potential to implement more effective restoration strategies. Objective: To determine the growth rate of the reef-building coral Pocillopora throughout the Mexican Central Pacific (PCM) and its relationship with fluctuations in environmental conditions. Methods: From August 2019-October 2020, a total of 153 branched coral fragments of the genus Pocillopora were monitored and transplanted as part of the restoration program in different PCM locations: Islas Marietas National Park and in the Caleta de Cuastecomates. Coral growth (cm·year-1) and survival rate (%), was calcu-lated and correlated with temperature, PAR and Kd490 for each locality. Results: The results show similar patterns in the parameters examined among the coral fragments were found for all sites, with a survival range of 61.6 – 68 %, whose mortality was mainly related to hurricanes and storms that affected the region. However, growth rate range from 2.0 – 8.0 cm·year-1, with no significant differences between locations. Also, no differences in environmental conditions between locations were recorded. Conclusions: The branching corals of the genus Pocillopora present a similar growth rate in insular and coastal sites of the PCM, so it could be expected that the implementation of a restoration program throughout this region of the Mexican Pacific would be potentially successful, since local environmental conditions are not limiting factors.