Ecological succession on 3D printed ceramic artificial reefs

The global degradation of natural coral reefs requires innovative approaches to their conservation and restoration. This study investigates the efficacy of using parametric design tools in 3D software and 3D-printed terracotta structures in artificial reef (AR) design. Three ARs were deployed in the northern Gulf of Aqaba in 2019. Seven months post-deployment the ARs were consolidated to one location. Consecutive monitoring, conducted from June 2019 to March 2022, examined the recruitment and settlement of fish, corals, and other marine organisms on the ARs. The ARs hosted complex communities, with fish populations reaching equilibrium approximately one year after deployment. Octocorallia were first observed 4.5 months post-deployment, and hexacorallia 5.5 months post-deployment, with neither reaching a steady state within the study period. Additionally, we found that combining dispersed AR units into a single complex significantly increased fish abundance, but did not affect species richness. This study contributes to our understanding of effective artificial reef design, spatial distribution and implementation, and understanding of marine ecological succession processes in the Gulf of Aqaba.