Evaluación de morfotipos de coral Acropora cervicornis en guarderías colgantes para restauración

Accelerated degradation of coral formations, especially shallow water species, such as A. cervicornis, has caused great concern, leading to the implementa-tion of different active measures to recover this ecosystem. This study evaluated the efficiency of a vertical tree nursery model with A. cervicornis fragments in San Martin de Pajarales Island (Oceanario, Center for Research, Education and Recreation [Ceiner], Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Park [Pnncr y Sb , in Spanish], Colombia), where 10 vertical nurseries were installed (5 morfotypes). A total of 12 fragments from each morfotype were studied, determining their growth (linear and ecological volume), survival and health status. Morfotypes evaluated behaved similarly in both growths. Likewise, the survival of fragments by morfotype was high, varying from 90 to 100%, with algal overgrowth being the most recurrent sign causing partial mortality. This demonstrates the lowcost efficiency of floating nurseries as a meth-od for the restoration of this type of ecosystem.