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Low sediment loads affect survival of coral recruits: the first weeks are crucial

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Abstract

Increased sedimentation due to anthropogenic activities is a threat to many nearshore coral reefs. The effects on adult corals have been studied extensively and are well known. Studies about the impact of sedimentation on the early life stages of scleractinian corals, however, are rare although recruitment is essential for conserving and restoring coral reefs. Laboratory and in situ experiments with recruits of different age classes focused on the broadcast-spawning species Acropora hyacinthus and the brooding coral Leptastrea purpurea. Recruits were exposed to different sediment loads over three to five weeks. Applied sediment loads were more than one order of magnitude lower than those known to affect survival of adult coral colonies. Growth and survival of newly settled recruits were negatively affected by sediment loads that had no effect on the growth and survival of one-month-old recruits. All experiments indicated that newly settled coral recruits are most sensitive to sedimentation within the first two to four weeks post settlement. The co-occurrence of moderate sedimentation events during and immediately after periods of coral spawning can therefore reduce recruitment success substantially. These findings provide new information to develop comprehensive sediment management plans for the conservation and recovery of coral reefs affected by chronic or acute sedimentation events.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded under the Guam Coral Reef Initiative by the United State Department of Interior and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under grant numbers CRI-GU-10 and CRI-GU-11. We thank Dr. Makoto Kitamura as well as staff and students of the UOG Marine Laboratory for assistance during field and laboratory work. We would also like to thank the editors and anonymous reviewers for evaluating this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICBM, Environmental Biochemistry, Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Schleusenstraße 1, 26382, Wilhelmshaven, Germany

    Mareen Moeller, Samuel Nietzer & Peter J. Schupp

  2. Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, UOG Station, Mangilao, GU, 96923, USA

    Tom Schils

Authors
  1. Mareen Moeller
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  2. Samuel Nietzer
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  3. Tom Schils
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  4. Peter J. Schupp
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Correspondence to Mareen Moeller or Peter J. Schupp.

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Communicated by Ecology Editor Dr. Michael Berumen

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Moeller, M., Nietzer, S., Schils, T. et al. Low sediment loads affect survival of coral recruits: the first weeks are crucial. Coral Reefs 36, 39–49 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-016-1513-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-016-1513-1

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