Developing restoration methods to aid in recovery of a key herbivore, diadema antillarum, on Florida coral reefs.

Abstract

Interim Report: The Diadema Project was developed as a two pronged approach for the restoration of Diadema antillarim, as a keystone herbivore on to the reef. The two pronged approach included a land based culture section and a field based restoration section. The land based culture section was organized at three levels of size and development, consisting of: Small Scale Experimental (SSP); Pilot-Scale Production (PSP); and Large Scale Production (LSP). The scope of work was to transition with the transfer of the accomplished procedures and information from the small-scale level experiments into the pilot-scale level of culture production. This is a report on the Pilot Scale Production (PSP) of the project, which includes the follwing tasks: the initiation of transfer of technologies from the Small Scale Experimental (SPS) section; the scale up of algal production for PSP runs and back-up supply of algae for SPS section; the refinement of larval culture containers; the scale-up of larval culture containers; and the culture run of larvae from small containers to large containers plus alternate setting and metamorphosis containers.

Special Report: During 2010, continuation of Diadema culture efforts at Martin Moe’s SSP facility at Islamorada were enabled by “Special Consideration” funds provided by Protect Our Reefs in the fall of 2009. These funds allowed this important work to continue in 2010. This is a report on the Diadema culture activities enabled by those funds. It was aimed at consolidating the larval rearing success of 2009 and firmly establishing the basic elements of a large scale, reliable rearing technology for Diadema. Unfortunately this was not accomplished but progress has been made and the reasons for this lack of success have been identified.