Acclimatization potential in stress tolerant Caribbean corals - outcomes of a 5 year cross-shelf reciprocal transplant experiment

Abstract

The identification and use of stress-tolerant coral in outplanting efforts has been proposed as a method of restoring and bolstering reef health under increasing environmental change. Prior research has focused on understanding survival in cross-reef transplantation, but evidence of long term resiliency of outplanted corals remains limited. Here, we report data at a five-year timepoint of a reciprocal transplant study of the stress-tolerant Caribbean corals Pseudodiploria strigosa and Siderastrea siderea between a nearshore and offshore site in Belize. Extreme marine heat wave conditions in August of 2024 revealed species and site-specific bleaching patterns. Through assessments of mortality, energy reserves, and chlorophyll concentrations, P. strigosa appear to be more limited in long-term acclimatization potential to the nearshore environment while S. siderea maintain acclimatization capacity displayed 17 months post transplant to nearshore. This work conveys information relevant to managers in selecting species for restoration efforts based on short-term growth and long-term resilience in native versus non-native sites, offers insight into potential mechanisms driving these trends, and takeaways on site specific management decisions for successful coral outplanting success.