Going with the flow: Leveraging reef-scale hydrodynamics for upscaling larval-based restoration

Area of Science:

• Marine ecology
• Oceanography
• Restoration ecology

Background:

• Coastal ecosystems face anthropogenic pressures, requiring large-scale restoration.
• Propagule-based restoration uses natural dispersal for hectare-scale recovery.
• Predicting larval dispersal is complex due to hydrodynamics and propagule behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop a 3D reef-scale dispersal model for Lizard Island, Australia.
• Predict the impact of hydrodynamics on coral spawn slicks and larvae.
• Improve fine-scale predictions for larval dispersal patterns.

Main Methods:

• Utilized in situ field observations and dispersal simulations.
• Assessed model accuracy in forecasting hydrodynamics and spawn slick convergence zones.
• Identified optimal locations and times for larval settlement enhancement.

Main Results:

• Model accurately predicted coral spawn slick convergence zones.
• Model captured hydrodynamic variability at 58% of reef benthos locations.
• High particle retention (5-15 hours) occurred in 1-ha areas at 15/25 sites.

Conclusions:

• Fine-scale dispersal modeling is crucial for scaling up larval-based reef restoration.
• Model predictions align with observations, validating its utility.
• Further improvements in predicting local conditions are needed for complex environments.