This data set contains surveillance of disease and predation conditions on staghorn coral (A.cervicornis). Surveys at multiple sites with colonies were conducted every 2 to 4 weeks during two summer seasons to document disease and predation prevalence and disease incidence. Additional work in a third year focused on quantifying the effects of fireworm predation on restored corals, including healing times.

This dataset contains condition and size of outplanted, cultured fragments of elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, observed in two separate experiments. Data tables give the observed condition and size of each fragment at sequential surveys over ~ 2 years duration for each experiment.

Staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, is a threatened species and the primary focus of western Atlantic reef-restoration efforts to date. As part of the USGS Coral Reef Ecosystems Studies project (http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/crest/), scientists investigated skeletal characteristics of nursery-grown staghorn coral reared using two commonly used grow-out methods at Mote Tropical Research Laboratory’s offshore nursery. USGS staff compared linear extension, calcification rate, and skeletal density of nursery-raised A. cervicornis branches reared for six months either on blocks attached to substratum or hanging from monofilament line (on PVC “trees”) in the water column. The results demonstrated that branches grown on the substratum had significantly higher skeletal density, measured using computerized tomography (CT), and lower linear extension rates compared to water-column fragments. Calcification rates determined with buoyant weighing were not statistically different between the two grow-out methods, but did vary among coral genotypes. Whereas skeletal density and extension rates were plastic traits that depended on environment, the calcification rate was conserved. Results show that the two rearing methods generate the same amount of calcium-carbonate skeleton but produce colonies with different skeletal characteristics, and suggest that genetically based variability in coral-calcification performance exists. The data resulting from this experiment are provided in this data release and are interpreted in Kuffner et al. (2017).

Data were collected as part of the CRCP-funded project "Coral restoration in natural ocean acidification refugia." Carbonate chemistry parameters and temperature data describe environmental conditions incident on Acropora cervicornis nursery and outplanting sites throughout the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas. Growth data are periodic measurement of colony total linear extent (TLE).