Progress report for
Zoe : Artificial Reef Assessment + Coral Planting
Achievement at a glance
170 colonies of A.tenuifolia were photographed using photoquadrat at Zoe (Electrolytic reef with 6V) (N=100) and at 7 concrete-control-platforms (N0=70) at t0=July 2021 and t1=January 2022. Per-colony Total Area, Partial Mortality, Length, Width and Height were measured using ImageJ and Growth rates (GR) were calculated between sampling times. Per-colony orientation, sublocation within zoe, depth and seabed distance were tested for effect on growth and mortality.Preliminary data of N=30 for Zoe and N0=30 for platforms) was analyzed using JASP. Amongst the preliminary findings, we observed the following for Zoe:
-Significant correlation between Height GR and Seabed Distance at Zoe (Spearman’s rho:0.454, p=0.02).
-Significant negative correlation between the percentage of partial mortality of colonies at t1 and Distance to Seabed (Spearman’s rho=-0.401, p=0.031).
-Positive correlation between partial mortality at t1 and depth (Spearman’s rho=0.372, p=0.047).
-Significant difference between Sublocations for GR in Area (Kruskall-Wallis, p=0.014) with an average of 0.286 ± 0.146 (Mean±SD) for Sublocation A, 0.775±0.620 (Mean±SD) for Sublocation D, 0.338±0.213 (Mean±SD) for Sublocation E and 0.117±0.117 (Mean+SD) for Sublocation H.
For the whole population (Zoe and Platforms) we found a significant difference in colony Area %growth between size classes (Kruskall-Wallis, P=0.001) with an average of 0.633 ±0.497 for size Class I, 0.407±0.258 for size class II, 0.271±0.173 for size class III and 0.240 ±0.203 for size class IV.
A significant difference was found in length, width, area and height (Wilcoxon-t-test P<0.005) between t0 and t1 for both Zoe and Platforms. 11 Coral species were identified, and Total coral abundance increased by 15% since January 2021 at Zoe.
Challenges faced in implementation
Although both Zoe and the platforms represent a unique opportunity to study one of the dominating coral species in the local branch of the Mesoamerican reef in oceanic conditions, this also entails working with many tertiary variables found during the first exploratory research efforts. Zoe being a 3D structure, it contends with some colonies collecting more sediment, getting varying amounts of sunlight, sedimentation, current, and impact from human traffic (e.g.snorkeling tourists accidentally touching or breaking the corals) depending on their sublocation. Given that the initial efforts at Zoe focused on planting local coral fragments, the genetic origin of each colony remains unknown, as well as whether some colonies share a genetic origin. For this first study, given the limited size class representation across Zoe, statistical comparisons at this moment were not possible for size class between sublocations of Zoe.The island of Cozumel and its area of the Mesoamerican reef is impacted constantly by the presence of human cruise ship tourism. At the beginning of the project, due to the covid-19 pandemic, cruise ships were absent on the island. Waste-water treatment on the island is limited. Increase in cruise ships docking and the high density of tourists in the area are factors affecting corals due to water nutrient pollution and direct physical threats to corals on the structure.
The limited human and economic resources, as well as the vastness of time-sensitive field information made the collection and analysis of underwater data challenging. The team leading this report is Lead Research Biologist Solène Jonveaux, Lead Data Scientist María Mirón, and Founder and Director Colleen Flanigan, with the help of committed scuba volunteers from all countries and backgrounds. The current research effort represents an international, interdisciplinary collaboration in the intersections of marine ecology, data science, technological innovation, and art.
Next Steps
Next steps in research are:1) In-field quantification of predation threat of Coralliophila abbreviata on Agaricia tenuifolia: -Estimating its per-colony abundance by measuring coral density and snail predation.
- Identification and monitoring of partial mortality induced by predation.
- Determining size-class abundance and tendencies according to local variables at Zoe.
- Monitoring of the evolution of predated coral lesions and exposed skeletons in time.
2) Implementation of newly designed and built innovative sedimentation traps allowing
measurement of net sedimentation rate at various locations on Zoe and between platforms to
test the effect of this variable on A.tenuifolia growth and partial mortality.
3) Expansion of the analyzed sample from N=60 to N=180 will be made with the software analysis of already collected data at both sampling times to allow new statistical tests and variable categories: Including the 4 remaining platforms and 5 remaining areas of Zoe. Isolating the effects of electrolysis and components of variables such as sublocation in Zoe by performing Principal Component Analysis. Documenting occurrence of fission and fusion between A.tenuifolia colonies
on Zoe.
4) An experimental transect has been realized for each platform and at Zoe. More transect of fish species richness and abundance at these locations for repetitive measures and with comparison to natural reefs will be made.
5) These findings and future accomplishments of these steps will help to determine restoration efforts and actions to be undertaken at Zoe in term of colonization of specific areas and extension of coral species richness and abundance on the structure.
Beneficiaries
Cozumel island benefits directly from the sustainable tourism that Zoe brings, being in a wellvisited zone of the island, close to the shore and easily accessible to locals and visitors. This project constitutes a good opportunity of studying A. tenuifolia in oceanic conditions, and the research findings are contributing to the scientific knowledge on this dominating species marine ecology, as well as to factors involved in its restoration efforts in the Mesoamerican reef.
The project benefits a larger population through online education about marine ecosystems, theimportance of coral reefs, and citizen science via the Livestream cam (accessible through Living Sea Sculpture YouTube channel and zoecoral.com).
Beyond being a coral nursery and restoration site with platforms, coral trees, ropes, for examples, Zoe acts as a 3D
artificial reef, therefore contributing to biodiversity and coastal protection of the island of Cozumel, Mexico.
Actions
As part of our commitment to the Ocean Decade, we submitted a project proposal to UNESCO that would lead to scaling of coral restoration in coalition with the local non-profits, CIMAC and Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Project among others, academic institutions such as CINVESTAV and UNAM, as well as governmental and private organizations, INAPESCA, CONAPESCA, Sand Dollar Sports, Iberostar, Plant a Million Corals, and other individuals and organizations that are convening to protect, restore, and advance concerted efforts for ocean and human health - a sustainable island economy that increasingly designs balance into how it interacts and interdependently relates to the natural resources and irreplaceable wealth of coral reefs.We propose The Cozumel Coral Conservatory is a place, a community, a coalition of engaged practitioners that see the value of working in tandem to share our databases, build ocean knowledge and capacity, and focus our energy towards achieving mutual aims of health and thriving prosperity for humans and all species that are interdependent on this Earth.
On a regular basis we have divers, volunteers, students and professionals join our inclusive project so they can grow and solve problems applying their unique skills and minds. With the BiCMat group (BioColloidal Materials Group of University of BC and Aalto University) this past year, we prototyped and began testing carbon neutral/carbon sequestering and biobased materials in Cozumel as another aspect of our intention to reduce our own carbon footprint, add value and positive opportunities to the field of coral restoration at the intersection of education, research, tourism, and sustainability in the face of climate change and the urgency to mitigate the devastation that could be caused by intensifying disasters and the construction of a 4th cruise pier on Cozumel.
Here is a Spanish/English petition to learn more about the pier:
https://www.change.org/p/conanp-no-necesitamos-una-4ta-terminal-homeport-para-cruceros-en-la-isla #noalcuartomuelle