Effect of fragment size on growth and survival rate of soft coral <i>Sarcophyton</i> sp.

Tram Dang Tran Tu; Thi Hong Ngoc Dao; Thi Nguyet Hue Nguyen; Son Lam Ho; Truong An Dinh; Van Than Doan; Truong Tan Tai Nguyen; Hai Dang Do; Kim Hoang Phan; Cong Thinh Tran; Thai An Hua; Xuan Ben Hoang

doi:10.15625/1859-3097/18638

Author affiliations

Authors

Tram Dang Tran Tu Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4926-043X
Dao Thi Hong Ngoc Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Nguyen Thi Nguyet Hue Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Ho Son Lam Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Dinh Truong An Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Doan Van Than Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Nguyen Truong Tan Tai Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Do Hai Dang Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Phan Kim Hoang Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Tran Cong Thinh Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Hua Thai An Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Hoang Xuan Ben Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15625/1859-3097/18638

Keywords:

Sarcophyton sp., fragmentation, self-attachment, specific growth rate, survival rate.

Abstract

The Sarcophyton sp., are very strong and dominant in many coral reef areas. Sarcophyton species are characterized by a distinct sterile stalk, a broad, flared, smooth, mushroomshaped top, with a wide distribution and dominance in numerous coral reef areas extending from the Red Sea and eastern Africa to the western Pacific Ocean. They are cherished in marine aquariums for their diverse colors and adaptability, but their excessive exploitation has significantly impacted resources and disrupted the balance of the soft coral biome that inhabits coral reefs. The objective of the current study was to assess the impact of fragment size (0.5 × 0.5, 1.0 × 1.0, 1.5 × 1.5, 2.0 × 2.0 and 2.5 × 2.5 cm) on survival rate, growth rate and time of attachment of coral Sarcophyton sp. in a closed seawater system. Each treatment involved three replicates with 20 cuttings per replicate and the experimental period was 90 days. The experiment showed that the size of fragment did not influence the growth rate of oral disc diameter, pedal disk diameter and the time attachment of Sarcophyton sp. However, the size of fragment effect to survival rate, growth rate of height and weight of Sarcophyton sp. colonies. These findings collectively suggest that the initial coral fragment size of 1.5 cm was suitable in laboratory conditions.

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