Experimental data comparing two coral grow-out methods in nursery-raised Acropora cervicornis

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Experimental data comparing two coral grow-out methods in nursery-raised Acropora cervicornis
Abstract:
Staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, is a threatened species and the primary focus of western Atlantic reef-restoration efforts to date. As part of the USGS Coral Reef Ecosystems Studies project (http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/crest/), scientists investigated skeletal characteristics of nursery-grown staghorn coral reared using two commonly used grow-out methods at Mote Tropical Research Laboratory’s offshore nursery. USGS staff compared linear extension, calcification rate, and skeletal density of nursery-raised A. cervicornis branches reared for six months either on blocks attached to substratum or hanging from monofilament line (on PVC “trees”) in the water column. The results demonstrated that branches grown on the substratum had significantly higher skeletal density, measured using computerized tomography (CT), and lower linear extension rates compared to water-column fragments. Calcification rates determined with buoyant weighing were not statistically different between the two grow-out methods, but did vary among coral genotypes. Whereas skeletal density and extension rates were plastic traits that depended on environment, the calcification rate was conserved. Results show that the two rearing methods generate the same amount of calcium-carbonate skeleton but produce colonies with different skeletal characteristics, and suggest that genetically based variability in coral-calcification performance exists. The data resulting from this experiment are provided in this data release and are interpreted in Kuffner et al. (2017).
Supplemental_Information:
Scientific research permits: The data herein were collected with permission from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary under FKNMS-2013-024-A2 (USGS permit) and FKNMS-2011-150-A2 (Mote Marine Laboratory working under authorization of The Nature Conservancy permit). To ensure that USGS-St. Petersburg data management protocols were followed, the two relevant field missions were assigned the following USGS field activity numbers (FAN): 2015-313-FA and 2015-337-FA. Additional survey and data details are available from the U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Geoscience Data System (CMGDS) at, http://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Kuffner, Ilsa B., Bartels, Erich, Stathakopoulos, Anastasios, Enochs, Ian C., Kolodziej, Graham, Toth, Lauren T., and Manzello, Derek P., 20170214, Experimental data comparing two coral grow-out methods in nursery-raised Acropora cervicornis: U.S. Geological Survey Data Release doi:10.5066/F7HH6H72, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Kuffner, I B, Bartels, E, Stathakopoulos, A, Enochs, I C, Kolodziej, G, Toth, L T, and Manzello, D P, 2017, Plasticity in skeletal characteristics of nursery-raised staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis: Coral Reefs, New York.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -81.40013
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -81.40013
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.56275
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.56275
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 19-Apr-2015
    Ending_Date: 30-Oct-2015
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      Indirect_Spatial_Reference: Not applicable
      This is a Point data set.
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    Staghorn_coral_skeletal_data.csv, Staghorn_coral_skeletal_data.xlsx
    These files contain tabulated data collected in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary from April to October, 2015. (Source: USGS)
    Coral_ID
    Coral identification number assigned by USGS personnel. (Source: USGS) Non-sequential identification number assigned by USGS personnel
    Growout_Method
    A textual description of grow-out method (treatment) employed for this sample. (Source: USGS) Corals grown attached to lines in the water column are labeled “water” and corals grown attached to concrete blocks at the seafloor are labeled “block.”
    Genotype_ID_Mote
    A textual identifier for the genetic identity (genotype) of the coral sample as assigned by Mote Marine Laboratory personnel. (Source: Mote Marine Laboratory) A textual identifier for the genetic identity (genotype) of the coral sample as assigned by Mote Marine Laboratory personnel.
    Genotype_ID_Baums
    Genotype identification number assigned by Iliana B. Baums (Pennsylvania State University) based upon genetic data as determined using Mendelian microsatellite loci (see “Process” for details). (Source: Pennsylvania State University) A textual identifier of the unique genotype of the coral sample as defined by Baums.
    Branch_original_width_mm
    Width (equal to maximum diameter) of the original, single-branch coral colony in mm (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:8.4
    Maximum:15.6
    Units:mm
    Height_original_cm
    Height of the original, single-branch colony in cm (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2.28
    Maximum:9.00
    Units:cm
    Calcif_mg_day
    Average calcification rate (mg / day) per coral sample measured using the buoyant-weight method during the 191-day experimental period (April 19 to October 30, 2015) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:18.5
    Maximum:75.5
    Units:milligrams per day (mg / day)
    Skeletal_density_g_cm3
    Skeletal density (g / cubic cm) of skeleton produced during the experimental period measured by computerized tomography (CT) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.05
    Maximum:1.45
    Units:grams per cubic cm (g / cm3)
    Total_linear_extension_added_cm
    Net total linear extension of all branches (sum of extension of each new branch and net length added to original branch in cm) added during the 191-day experimental period (April 19 to October 30, 2015). (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:4.2
    Maximum:20.1
    Units:cm
    Number_new_branches
    Number of coral branches added by the original, single-branch colony during the 191-day experimental period (April 19 to October 30, 2015). (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:9
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The entity and attribute information provided here describes the tabular associated with the dataset. Please review the detailed descriptions that are provided (the individual attribute descriptions) for information on these data.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
    The entity and attribute information was generated by the individual and/or agency identified as the originator of the dataset. Please review the rest of the metadata record for additional details and information.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Ilsa B. Kuffner
    • Erich Bartels
    • Anastasios Stathakopoulos
    • Ian C. Enochs
    • Graham Kolodziej
    • Lauren T. Toth
    • Derek P. Manzello
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Acknowledgment of the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program, as a data source would be appreciated in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected.
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Ilsa B. Kuffner
    U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    600 4th Street South
    Saint Petersburg, FL
    U.S.A.

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    ikuffner@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

These data were obtained from April to October, 2015, to test the hypothesis that skeletal characteristics of the coral Acropora cervicornis depend upon grow-out method when reared in an offshore nursery. These data will be used to inform resource managers and coral-restoration practitioners on the most efficient grow-out methods depending upon the intended purpose of the coral fragments.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 01-Jan-2011 (process 1 of 5)
    Acropora cervicornis genotypes were assigned unique identification numbers by Iliana B. Baums (Pennsylvania State University) based upon Mendelian microsatellite loci for the Caribbean coral Acropora palmata (Baums et al. 2005; 2010).
    Date: 30-Oct-2015 (process 2 of 5)
    Coral calcification rates were measured using the buoyant-weight technique by subtracting the sample weight in seawater at the start of the experiment (on April 19, 2015) from the sample weight after 191 days (on October 30, 2015) and calculating dry weight gained per day (mg d-1) using a seawater density of 1.02 g cm-3 and an aragonite density of 2.93 g cm-3 resulting in a conversion equation of Wair = 1.53Wwater (see Jokiel et al. 1978). Because single branch tips of approximately equal size (?1-cm2 planar footprint if standing on end, mean ± 1 standard deviation (SD) diameter of branch tip: 1.2 ± 0.14 cm, original tip height: 6.8 ± 1.7 cm) were used in the experiment, calcification rates were not normalized to any measure of surface area or initial weight.
    Date: 09-May-2016 (process 3 of 5)
    Original colony height and total linear extension (increase in colony height plus accumulative length of all new branches) were measured to the nearest 0.1 mm using calipers.
    Date: 09-May-2016 (process 4 of 5)
    Skeletal density of the corals was measured by computerized tomography (CT) using a Siemens Somatom Volume Zoom CT scanner at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in Miami, Florida. Density of skeleton added during the experimental period was determined using the Amira software package (FEI Company, Inc.) by digitally bisecting the CT image stack at the measured original height of each fragment. Mean of brightness of the entire volume of new growth was converted to real-world skeletal density using aragonite density phantoms.
    Date: 13-Oct-2020 (process 5 of 5)
    Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Kuffner, Ilsa B., 20170214, Plasticity in skeletal characteristics of nursery-raised staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis: Springer, New York.

    Online Links:

    • Unknown

    Baums IB, Hughes CR, Hellberg MH, 20050310, Mendelian microsatellite loci for the Caribbean coral Acropora palmata: Inter-Research, Marine Ecology Progress Series, Luhe, Germany.

    Online Links:

    Baums IB, Johnson ME, Devlin-Durante MK, Miller MW, 20100616, Host population genetic structure and zooxanthellae diversity of two reef-building coral species along the Florida Reef Tract and wider Caribbean: Springer - Coral Reefs, New York.

    Online Links:

    Jokiel PL, Maragos JE, Franzisket L, 1978, Coral growth: buoyant weight technique. In: Stoddart DR, Johannes RE (eds) Coral reefs: research methods: UNESCO, Paris.

    Online Links:

    • None

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    No formal attribute accuracy tests were conducted.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Dataset is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract. Users are advised to read the rest of the metadata record carefully for additional details.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    No formal logical accuracy tests were conducted.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints: none
Use_Constraints:
Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. The U.S. Geological Survey requests to be acknowledged as originator of these data in future products or derivative research.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    Ilsa B. Kuffner
    U.S. Geological Survey
    600 4th Street South
    Saint Petersburg, FL
    U.S.A.

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    ikuffner@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    This publication was prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution imply any such warranty. The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and (or) contained herein. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof.
  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 13-Oct-2020
Metadata author:
Ilsa B. Kuffner
U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Research Marine Biologist
600 4th Street South
Saint Petersburg, Florida
U.S.A.

727-502-8048 (voice)
ikuffner@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/spcmsc/Staghorn_coral_metadata.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Tue Sep 21 18:18:52 2021