Factors associated with response Pocillopora spp. (Anthozoa: Scleractinia) during a restoration process on the Mexican Pacific coast

Abstract

During a restoration process of Pocillopora spp., using opportunity corals (CO) several biotic attributes were assessed at two sites bi-monthly over a year and concentrations of mycosporin type amino acids (MAAs) and levels of chlorophyll a (Chl a) were determined. Specifically, in the last sampling analysis it was performed an analysis of malonaldehyde (MDA) and the RNA/DNA and protein/DNA relationships were calculated, as an index of oxidative stress and transcriptional activity in symbiont and coral tissue of all morphotypes. At Carrizales site (SC) the coral clusters (RC) used as a method of restoration, promoted the integration of CO showing signs of recovery and high survival rates (90%); however, in Juluapan site (SJ), a lack of response to biotic and molecular indicators associated with recovery was observed. Therefore, CO from Carrizales were not able to acclimate to a place where different conditions prevail. High concentrations of Chl a, AAMs and a high RNA/DNA ratio were characteristic of a healthy condition of coral which in turn, were associated with higher specimen’s survival and restoration.