I am very grateful for the opportunity to have conducted this study at ReefoDivers as part of my research internship at the Marine Animal Ecology (MAE) chair group of Wageningen University & Research.
I would like to thank my supervisors, Guido Paap and Ronald Osinga for their theoretical and practical support, and for making the collaboration an enjoyable experience. A special thanks to Guido and the reef rangers for being my dive buddies and for including me in the team; you ensured this was a valuable and educational experience, both in terms of research and on a social and personal level.
The study I conducted aimed to find the optimal depth to guarantee the highest productivity of Acropora sp., Millepora cf. tenera, and Pocillopora cf. verrucosa in a nursery environment at the coast in front of Diani Beach, Southern Kenya. This was achieved by investigating the depth with the most favorable balance between growth and survival, leading to the highest productivity of the species. The specific growth rate of Pocillopora cf. verrucosa was the only one affected by depth, showing reduced growth at four meters below mean lower low water (MLLW). The productivity of Acropora sp. and Millepora cf. tenera was not affected by depth. In contrast, Pocillopora cf. verrucosa exhibited a depth effect, with fragments at four meters below MLLW showing lower productivity compared to those in the range of five to eight meters below MLLW. Overall, it was recommended to grow only Millepora cf. tenera at four meters below MLLW, while all three species can be grown in the range of five to eight meters. 🪸
https://lnkd.in/enaQmYYD
Visitor Experience Design, Project Management, and Zoo and Aquarium Design Professional
4moThank you!