EFFECTIVE RESTORATION OF MASSIVE CORALS POST-STONY CORAL TISSUE LOSS DISEASE EPIDEMIC IN BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK, FLORIDA

In the aftermath of immense massive coral loss in the Caribbean resulting from Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), research in best practices for restoration of affected species must be prioritized. While microfragmentation is proving to be an effective technique for slow-growing, massive corals, little is known about potential restoration success in SCTLD-endemic areas. Site selection is an important consideration for restoration success in these zones as outplant survival is impacted by many factors including predation, coral density, disease, and human disturbance. In this study, 48 microfragments of three SCTLD susceptible coral species (Montastraea cavernosa, Orbicella faveolata, Pseudodiploria clivosa) were outplanted at a nearshore and offshore reef in Biscayne National Park. Outplants were monitored monthly for 15 months via observations and photoquadrats. While outplant tissue loss and predation were significantly higher at the offshore site, no difference was found between species and both sites had overall high outplant survival rates (>90%). These results indicate that massive coral restoration can be successful in zones recovering from peak SCTLD damage.