Effects of Initial Size and Orientation on Growth Rate and Survival Rate of Transplanted Acropora desalwii Coral in Banyuwangi, East Java

• Main Author: RAHMAN AKBAR (NIM : 10613015), NAUFAL
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/29583
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Acropora desalwii is a coral species with high demand in the international ornamental coral trade. With such a high demand, a successful method of transplanting A. desalwii must be established to protect this species from extinction. This study tested the effects of initial fragment size and orientation on growth rate and survival rate of A. desalwii. The objectives were to determine the optimal combination of initial fragment size and orientation based on highest growth rate and survival rate. Three initial fragment size groups, i.e., S (mean length 3.5 ± 0.536 cm), M (mean length of 4.94 ± 0.7 cm), L (mean length of 10.06 ± 0.99 cm) and two orientations, i.e., vertical (V) and horizontal (H) were examined. The study was conducted on Kapuran Beach, Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia from June to September 2017. The axial and lateral growth rates and survival rates per treatment group, were respectively 0.126 ± 0.054 cm/month, 0.1296 ± 0.093 cm/month and 86.67% (SV); 0.156 ± 0.13 cm/month, 0.129 ± 0.12 cm/month and 73.33% (SH); 0.217 ± 0.208 cm/month, 0.1467 ± 0,088 cm/month and 86.67% (MV); 0.0997 ± 0.077 cm/month, 0.0732 ± 0.0435 cm/month and 80% (MH), 0.257 ± 0.1845 cm/month, 0.56 ± 0.5 cm/month and 90% (LV); 0.1267 ± 0.1167 cm/month, 0.2135 ± 0.32 cm/month and 80% (LH). Highest axial growth rate, lateral growth rate and survival rate were shown by the LV group. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference (p <0.05) in terms of lateral growth rate between initial sizes S and M compared to initial size L. Meanwhile, there was a significant difference (p <0.05) in both axial and lateral growth rates between vertical and horizontal orientation. Therefore, results of this study suggest that LV is the optimal combination of initial fragment size and orientation for transplantation of A. desalwii.