NSU Horizons Spring/Summer 2008

R esearchers at the National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) at Nova Southeastern University are hoping to restore damaged coral reefs by growing new coral from larvae. This initiative, which began in May of 2007, is seen as “critical to the conservation of our oceans’ reefs,” according to Richard Dodge, Ph.D., executive director of the NCRI and dean of the NSU Oceanographic Center. Coral reef ecosystems are economically, biologically, and culturally valuable. There is evidence that many coral reefs are deteriorating rapidly worldwide, and practical solu- tions to restoring and reinvigorating coral reefs are needed. This research aims to develop one of the tools in the manager’s toolbox to help address criti- cal issues. The process began with NCRI research- er Alison Moulding, Ph.D., collecting col- onies of the mustard hill coral Porites ast- reoides from a reef off Fort Lauderdale’s coast a few days prior to the larval release that occurs with a new moon. Over 100 juvenile mus- tard hill corals were successfully settled and are kept in indoor aquaria at the NSU Oceanographic Center. They will then be relocated to an outdoor coral husbandry system after a grow-out period. If the corals successfully grow large enough in the outdoor system, they will be transplanted to dam- aged reefs. This process will take several years since the corals usually grow less than one centimeter per year. “This outstanding research is consistent with NCRI’s mission of providing management-related research output on assessment, monitoring, and espe- cially restoration of coral reefs,” said Dodge. ■ 3 horizons academic notes New Beginnings for Our Treasured Reefs NCRI researcher Alison Moulding, Ph.D. photo by Laura Geselbrach Juvenile mustard hill corals at five weeks International Coral Reef Symposium N ova Southeastern University’s (NSU) National Coral Reef Institute is proud to chair the organizing com- mittee of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS). The ICRS will take place July 7 through 11 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The event is the largest and most prestigious gathering of coral reef scientists and government natural resource managers from around the world. Held every four years, the week-long gather- ing attracts an international array of coral reef scientists, governments, and nongovern- mental organizations to exchange information on research, management, and coral reef conservation. The last two symposia were held in the eastern Pacific—Bali and Okinawa. The ICRS has not been held in the continen- tal United States for more than 30 years. It is expected that more than 2,500 experts from all over the globe will attend this year. Drawing millions of visitors each year, Florida’s clear waters, pristine beaches, and coral reefs support a $53 billion tourism industry and a $14 billion marine industry. Recognizing the importance of healthy coastal habitats, NSU’s National Coral Reef Institute and the state of Florida have taken important steps to strengthen protection for coral reefs during the last five years. ■