Fig 1.
Locations of the experimental larval-enhanced and control plots (Magsaysay reef) and the source of A. loripes colonies (Caniogan and Balingasay reefs) in the Bolinao-Anda Reef Complex, northwestern Philippines.
Fig 2.
(a) Sample dead coral tile deployed in larval-enhanced and control plots used to determine initial larval settlement. (b) The mesh matting placed onto the larval enhancement plot.
Fig 3.
Mean percentage cover of benthic categories in larval-enhanced (N = 3) and control (N = 3) plots before the experiment.
Total available area on each plot for coral settlement, which is about 8 m2, is a combination of dead hard coral and rubble. Error bars are ± SEM.
Fig 4.
(a) Mean initial A. loripes larval settlement on all tile surfaces in the larval-enhanced (N = 3) and control (N = 3) plots after 5 days, and (b) mean settlement on the different surfaces of tiles in the larval-enhanced plots (N = 3). Means are for ten tiles per plot and are averaged among the three replicate plots. Error bars are ± SEM.
Fig 5.
Kaplan-Meier survivorship for 35 months for (a) A. loripes recruits settled on tiles (N = 834), and for visible recruits on natural reef substrata starting at 8 months post-settlement (N = 72) (b) A. loripes recruit survivorship on different tile surfaces (N = 834).
Fig 6.
Mean volume (a) and mean diameter (b) of juvenile A. loripes on recruitment tiles and natural substrata inside the three larval-enhanced plots. * No data. Error bars are ± SEM.
Fig 7.
Representative A. loripes recruits at 8 months post-larval enhancement on (a) natural reef substrata and (b) on settlement tiles. Three-year-old A. loripes corals on (c) natural reef substrata and (d) on settlement tiles.
Table 1.
Summary of costs for different activities related to larval enhancement and production of coral colonies.