This data set includes experimental results of fertilization assays to characterize genetic compatibility between individual parental genotypes. Targeted species include Acropora palmata and Orbicella faveolata. Microsatellite multi-locus genotypes for the O.faveolata parental population are included.

Acropora cervicornis, A. palmata and Orbicella faveolata are important reef-building coral species in the Florida Reef Tract (FRT). These species have experienced alarming declines throughout the FRT, resulting in an increased risk of inbreeding depression and susceptibility to decreased fitness in surviving colonies. Acropora cervicornis, A. palmata and O. faveolata are broadcast spawners, introducing genetic diversity through sexual recombination of gametes during annual spawning events. Successful reproduction during this time is critical for curbing the deleterious effects of inbreeding depression, and in successfully restoring wild colonies to self-sustaining levels of genetic diversity. A critical step in the reproductive cycle of these species is the success of gamete fertilization following mass spawning events. Several abiotic causes of gametic incompatibilities have been reliably observed in these species, and incompatibility between certain genotypes has been shown to occur. This dataset represents the collection of gametes from three coral species following nine spawning events in the Florida Keys during two spawning years (2019 and 2022), reciprocal fertilization trials with gametes from each parent and determined fertilization success for each cross. Additionally, tissue fragments were collected from each A. cervicornis parent, DNA was isolated from the tissue and single nucleotide polymorphism analyses were performed using the Axiom Coral-Algae Genotyping array (Axiom AcropSNP, ThermoFisher Scientific). This data package contains images of coral eggs post fertilization trial and the results in spreadsheet format. The raw A. cervicornis single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data are also provided.

This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Coral. The data include parameters of corals and sclerosponges with a geographic location of New Caledonia, Melanesia. The time period coverage is from 8 to -1 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.

This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Coral. The data include parameters of corals and sclerosponges with a geographic location of Mayotte, Comoros. The time period coverage is from 69 to -44 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.

This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Coral. The data include parameters of corals and sclerosponges with a geographic location of Madagascar. The time period coverage is from -13 to -56 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.

This data contains visual observations as well as Predatory snail removal and analysis on several reef plots in the Florida Keys. During the initial removal in June 2011, 639 snails were removed from twelve 150m2 plots. Snails were removed 2 additional times during a seven month removal phase, and then counted at five surveys over the next 19 months to track recolonization. At the conclusion, snails were collected, measured and sexed.

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).

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).