The Experimental Oculina Research Reserve
Coral Restoration
The
Oculina Banks, which are deep-water coral reefs occurring along the
shelf edge (50 - 100m) off the central east coast of Florida, suffer from
extensive habitat damage due to mobile fishing gear (trawls and dredges)
and anchoring activities. Structural damage ranges from toppled and broken
coral heads to dead coral rubble, the individual pieces of which rarely
exceed 2-3cm in length (Koenig et al. 2000). The Oculina varicosa
habitat provides extensive structural complexity for a diverse array of
macroinvertebrates and fishes (Reed et al. 1982, Reed and Mikkelsen 1987,
Gilmore and Jones 1992). The habitat also comprises significant spawning
grounds for economically important species of reef fish including gag
(Mycteroperca microlepis), scamp (M. phenax), red grouper
(Epinephelus morio), black sea bass (Centropristis striata),
and red porgy (Pagrus pagrus). While the damage is extensive,
dramatic, and disturbing, experiments in 1996 designed to examine coral
recruitment and transplant survival and growth (Koenig 1999) show promise
for habitat restoration in the reserve. The objective of the specific work on Oculina varicosa is to define habitat characteristics within the Experimental Oculina Research Reserve (EORR) off Ft. Pierce, Florida, and in the reference control areas outside of the reserve. Surveys are being conducted with ROV, drop video, and torpedo video to determine Oculina habitat condition. Extensive areas of Oculina habitat are known to be damaged or destroyed completely. Because recovery of fish populations depends on habitat condition, mapping is essential to characterizing health of spawning stocks. The results of this survey will be incorporated into our GIS database and will provide a basis with which to evaluate recovery of reef fish populations. This study also compares growth, survival, and recruitment of transplanted Oculina colonies in destroyed and intact Oculina habitat. Our preliminary study verified the effectiveness of transplantation. Finally, the study monitors fish abundance and community structure over time at artificial transplant modules, which are also designed as coral-head-simulating structures. They provide habitat complexity where none exists in the destroyed areas.