Abstract

Acropora palmata (Lamarck, 1816) and A. cervicornis (Lamarck, 1816), two key species of Caribbean coral reefs were added in 2008 to the IUCN Red List as critically endangered species. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of the breeding and transplantation of Acropora corals in Pigeon islets (Guadeloupe). The potential influence of en-vironmental factors and coral genotype on their growth was tested. Forty samples of A. cervicornis, A. palmata and their hybrid A. prolifera were transplanted in Pigeon Islets. The samples were either hung in open water or fixed on an A-frame form grid. The survival and the ponderal growth of the nubbins have been followed over a period of 109 days. Genetic anal-yses were conducted on both algal symbionts and coral host. Nine different genotypes of Acropora cervicornis, five of A. palmata and two of A. prolifera were identified, but all sampled corals sheltered clade A3 symbionts. The survival rates of the 3 species were high: 100% for Acropora cervicornis and A. prolifera and 97.5% for A. palmata. Over the study period, the weight of A. prolifera nubbins increased of 144%. For A. cervicornis and A. palmata the increasing rate was respectively of 113% and 57%. Regarding the nursery method, nubbins of the 3 species showed a better weight increase when they were hung in open water. However, no significant influence of environmental factors, as well as sample genotype could be asso-ciated with coral growth, under the experimental conditions of the present study.

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