Growth Rates of Coral Micro-Fragments from A Coral Restoration Project at Koh Larn, Chonburi Province, Thailand
Keywords:
Growth rate, Micro-fragmentation, Porites lutea, Restoration, Chonburi ProvinceAbstract
This study investigates the growth rates of Porites lutea coral fragments using coral micro-fragmentation for restoration at the Ao Nuan nursery plots in Koh Larn, Chonburi Province, Thailand. The coral fragments were divided into three groups based on diameter (1, 2, and 3 cm), attached to cement plugs, and placed on the coral reef nursery plots. After nine months, successful fusion was observed, and the average growth rates of micro-fragments for each size were 51.32%, 31.24%, and 29.54%, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in the mean growth rates between coral fragments of different sizes. Specifically, the initial diameter of 1 cm exhibited the highest mean growth rate compared to the other sizes in this study. These findings provide valuable insights into the optimal size of micro-fragments for coral reef restoration efforts, which can be used to develop more effective coral propagation strategies. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of using coral micro-fragmentation for coral reef restoration in the Ao Nuan nursery plot. Furthermore, the findings highlight the potential of this technique to be used in other coral restoration programs around the world. By understanding the optimal size of micro-fragments for coral growth, restoration efforts can be optimized and more efficient, leading to successful and sustainable coral reef restoration.
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