Coral Spawning and Larval Culturing Program

Coral Spawning and Larval Culturing Programs for Reef Restoration

Coral Spawning and larvae culturing is a relatively new form of obtaining feedstock’s for reef restoration. Rather than using ‘donor’ colonies, which are usually sourced from the natural reefs, this technique uses coral eggs and sperm to create new coral colonies which are all genetic individuals. For years this technique has only been available to researchers and professionals with a high amount of knowledge, expertise, and funding. With our improved techniques however anybody can involve in these techniques, improving the genetic diversity of restored areas and increasing the resilience of corals reefs.



Prerequisites

  • Be 12 years of age or older
  • Be certified as an Advanced diver under a leading diving organization (PADI, SSI, RAID, etc) or an Open Water diver who has satisfactorily completed a buoyancy appraisal with a professional diver
  • Demonstrate proper diving ability at an advanced Level and be proficient in buoyancy and self-awareness.
  • Be certified in our Coral Restoration Theory & Techniques Course

Standards

  • Understand the reproductive cycles of corals and their importance in maintaining diversity and renewing reef growth.
  • Understand various modes and evolutionary stable strategies in coral reproduction, and their implications with reef threats and restoration.
  • Learn how to track and predict coral spawning events.
  • Learn how to capture coral larvae and eggs and fertilize them with a focus on maximizing genetic diversity.
  • Learn how to culture and settle coral larvae using ex-situ husbandry.
  • Learn how to maintain and troubleshoot the flow-through larvae rearing ponds.

Requirements

  • Attend 3 lectures on coral spawning and larval capturing and culturing
  • Perform 3 dives related to coral spawning activities (1) in-water histology and site preparation (2) Spawning observation and timing (3) Larval capture and fertilization
  • Assist in the fertilization and rearing of coral larval

Minimum course length 12 hours

https://youtu.be/lqchzLmZhVE

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Published papers derived from this course:

Coral Spawning collection

by Chad Scott

Sea Turtle Ecology and Head-starting Program

08-turtle

Sea Turtle Ecology and Head-starting certification program

All 7 species of sea turtle on the planet today are on the endangered species list, with populations of some reduced by 98%. Divers form a network that is integral in the identification and monitoring of sea turtle populations around the globe. Furthermore, in this course you will learn skills and techniques to feed and care for sea turtles in a nursery, rehabilitation program, or head-starting program.

Prerequisites

None (SCUBA diving section of the program is optional, and encouraged)

Standards

  • Learn about the ecology, evolutionary history, threats, and identification of sea turtles
  • Understand the basics behind sea turtle head-starting programs as well as the science and debate about such initiatives
  • Attending briefing on the sea turtle nursery and understand how the system operates and how to troubleshoot the flow through system
  • Know how to properly handle, care for, and feed sea turtles in nursery or rehabilitation programs
  • Know how to monitor sea turtle growth and maintain the nursery
  • Know how to perform the water quality check

Requirements

  • Attend 1 lecture and 1 practical briefing
  • Take data on sea turtle growth (weight and shell length)
  • Perform cleaning, feeding, and maintenance activities
  • Identify a sea turtle during a dive/snorkel and report the data to our database (Optional)

Expected course time about 2-5 hours (depending on if dive is completed or not)

by Chad Scott

Artificial Reef Theory & Techniques

Artificial Reef Theory & Techniques

Artificial reefs have a wide range of uses in both coral reef restoration and problem mitigation. Artificial reefs (or structural restoration) can replace structure in disturbed areas, expand reef areas, provide alternative dive sites and diver training aids, or provide interesting art installations. Although they can be made simply, there is a lot of planning and theory behind any artificial reef instalment, and this course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to begin.

Prerequisites

  • Be 12 years of age or older
  • Be certified as an Advanced diver under a leading diving organization (PADI, SSI, RAID, etc) or an Open Water diver who has satisfactorily completed a buoyancy appraisal with a professional diver
  • Demonstrate proper diving ability at an advanced Level and be proficient in buoyancy and self-awareness
  • Complete the knowledge-building section of the Coral Restoration Theory and Techniques Course

Standards

  • Understand the use and applications of artificial reefs and the differences between different artificial reefs types and materials
  • Learn the practical standards and techniques for maintaining and monitoring artificial reefs
  • Be able to identify the threats/disturbance history to a coral reef area and decide if artificial reefs are necessary, and which type of structure to use.
  • Understand potential reasons for failure in artificial reef projects and the importance of proper planning and regular, long term maintenance.
  • Learn to design and build an artificial reef structure specific to a chosen location using local techniques and standards
  • Visit various artificial reefs that have been constructed from a range of materials and methods and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each type
  • Deploy an artificial reef and understand how to transplant corals onto the structure

Requirements

  • Attend the artificial reef knowledge development sessions (2) and complete the written exam
  • Construct and deploy an artificial reef structure
  • Attend 3 dive briefings
  • Perform 3 artificial reef dives (1) Maintenance and observation dive (2) monitoring and data Collection (3) deployment and attachment of coral from the coral nursery
  • Understand or practice at least 3 different transplanting techniques

Minimum course duration 10 hours

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Publications and Articles Related to this Course

Scientific Publications

Articles

by Chad Scott

Coral Restoration Theory & Techniques

Coral Restoration Theory & Techniques

Recent studies have found that about 50% of the world's coral reefs have already been lost, and the other 50% are highly threatened. The long running philosophy of “protection is always preferred over restoration” is a luxury which no longer applies to most regions. More and more, restoration is necessary to preserve the biodiversity and functionality of reefs, and to ensure the sustainability of the resources they provide.

Our reef restoration programs have evolved greatly since our first coral nursery in 2007. We take an ecosystem approach to restoration, which means that we take a holistic approach, focusing on the long-term sustainability and adaptability of the ecosystem rather then just trying to add more corals into areas where they will not survive. This approach has proven successful, as detailed in this 2020 independent analysis of our reef restoration techniques following more than 10 years of our concentrated efforts.

Our courses are on the cutting-edge of science-based coral restoration with a focus on genetics, adaptability, and resilience. We also adhere to the code of ethics as outlined by the Coral Restoration Consortium. Participants in our program will learn all of the theory and techniques behind coral reef restoration, as well as get hands on practice in these techniques. With almost 15 years of experience, we can ensure that everybody coming through our program will leave feeling knowledgeable enough to initiate programs of their own, and confident enough in their skills to carry those projects out to completion.

Coral Nursery

Our Coral Restoration Topics Include

  • Coral Gardening
  • Coral Fragment Collections
  • Coral Nursery construction, maintenance, and monitoring
  • Out-planting corals to the reef
  • Monitoring transplanted corals
  • Integration of beneficial organisms
  • Predator removal
  • How to take a genetic-based approach to reef restoration

https://youtu.be/dKmmAzzJRBg

Prerequisites

  • Be 12 years of age or older
  • Be certified as an Advanced diver under a leading diving organization (PADI, SSI, RAID, etc) or an Open Water diver who has satisfactorily completed a buoyancy appraisal with a professional diver
  • Demonstrate proper diving ability at an advanced Level and be proficient in buoyancy and self-awareness.
  • Be certified in the Ecological Monitoring Program

Standards

  • Understand the threats to coral reefs, the factors affecting coral growth, and the basics of coral reef restoration
  • Understand coral life cycles, the ecological differences between the asexual and sexual reproductive cycles in corals, and the importance of maintaining high biodiversity on the reef.
  • Understand the history and evolution of coral restoration techniques as well as local standards (do’s and don’ts)
  • Understand the theory behind the use of coral nurseries as well as the practical application of locally and internationally developed techniques
  • Perform the practical steps of building and maintaining a coral nursery
  • Perform a monitoring dive to take data on the health, growth, and diversity of a coral nursery

Requirements

  • Attend the coral nursery knowledge development session
  • Perform 2 practical dives either/or: Coral Nurseries - (1) collect coral fragments and secure to the nursery (2) perform maintenance and cleaning (3) collect data on growth rates, mortality, and diversity Coral Gardening - Re-secure at risk coral fragments either wedging or using epoxy or securing to benthic grids

Minimum course duration 12 hours

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Coral Restoration Related Readings

Coral restoration

by Chad Scott

Ecological Monitoring Program

Ecological Monitoring Program

The Ecological Monitoring program is designed to give students an introduction to coral reef ecology and how to view the reef scientifically by assessing key biotic and abiotic reef components. The course teaches students how to use real world scientific sampling and reef survey techniques and certifies them to conduct their own surveys and report data back to the online database. Parameters assessed include fish and invertebrate abundance and biodiversity, substrate cover, coral taxonomy, coral diseases, coral bleaching, and more. This course is a prerequisite for many of the other courses offered by Conservation Diver

https://youtu.be/S5FuBqUvikQ

Prerequisites

  • Be 12 years of age or older
  • Be certified as an Advanced diver under a leading diving organization (PADI, SSI, RAID, etc) or an Open Water diver who has satisfactorily completed a buoyancy appraisal with a professional diver
  • Demonstrate proper diving ability at an advanced Level and be proficient in buoyancy and self-awareness

Standards

  • Understand more about coral reef ecology and threats to coral reefs
  • Understand various survey techniques used by reef managers to monitor coral reef ecosystems
  • Learn the techniques and diagnostic features for identifying coral reef invertebrates along a permanent transect line
  • Learn the techniques and diagnostic features for identifying coral reef fishes and other vertebrates along a permanent transect line
  • Learn how to assess substrate types and hard coral coverage/growth forms using the point-intercept technique
  • Learn how to assess coral health and bleaching
  • Perform EMP surveys in several different areas and input the data into the database
  • Complete all 3 course exams

Requirements

  • Attend all knowledge development presentations
  • Complete the e-Learning or read and complete chapter reviews for chapters 1-8 in the EMP manual
  • Enter records into database
  • Perform all three surveys (invert., fish, and substrate) at least once
  • Perform a ‘full EMP’ at least once
  • Enter data onto data sheets or into the online database

Expected course time about 20 hours, minimum of 4 dives

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Related Resources

Note: This course has an accompanying textbook what come in a printed and electronic version available for purchase - Ecological Monitoring Program Manual


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Published Papers and reports related to this course

by Chad Scott

Giant Clam Nurseries and Population Studies

Giant Clam Nurseries and Population Studies

Giant Clams are important regulators of the oligotrophic conditions that coral reefs need the thrive. They are
able to filter on average 1000 litres of water per day which controls the water quality and nutrient levels in the ecosystem. This reduction in nutrients by filter feeders allow corals to thrive.
During this course students will be introduce to different
survey techniques to monitor giant clams and be taught the
key processes to evaluate and recognise different species.
We will also demonstrate the steps required to manage giant
clam nurseries and the on-going maintenance and data
collection to be done following transplanting.

Prerequisites

  • Be 12 years of age or older
  • Be certified as an Advanced diver under a leading diving organization (PADI, SSI, RAID, etc) or an Open Water diver who has satisfactorily completed a buoyancy appraisal with a professional diver
  • Demonstrate proper diving ability at an advanced Level and be proficient in buoyancy and self-awareness.
  • Be certified in our Ecological Monitoring Program

Standards

  • Understand the importance, ecology, and threats to giant clam populations locally and around the globe
  • Be able to identify anatomical features of giant clams in order to perform species recognition
  • Learn techniques to survey and monitor local giant clam populations
  • Learn techniques involving the use and maintenance of in-sea giant clam nurseries

Requirements

  • Attend 1 Giant Clam Lecture
  • Perform 1 survey dive specifically taking data on Giant Clam Abundance/Density, Diversity, and size distribution
  • Take data on giant clam growth and mortality at the in-sea nurseries
  • Perform general maintenance duties during 1 dive at the giant clam nurseries
  • Complete the final quiz
  • Enter data into Conservation Diver database

Expected course time about 8 hours

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by Chad Scott

Seahorse Ecology and Monitoring

Seahorse Ecology and Monitoring

The Seahorse ecology and monitoring course aims bridge the information gap in the scientific community on classification, population dynamics and conservation status of Syngnathiformes. This lack of information is one of the limiting factors in creating effective conservation strategies to protect these vulnerable species. To successfully create adequate
conservation plans for seahorses, we need to understand their
life history traits and ecology. This course will equip you with the skills to identify seahorse species using anatomical features and behavioural ecology traits.

Prerequisites

  • Be 12 years of age or older
  • Be certified as an Advanced diver under a leading diving organization (PADI, SSI, RAID, etc) or an Open Water diver who has satisfactorily completed a buoyancy appraisal with a professional diver
  • Demonstrate proper diving ability at an advanced Level and be proficient in buoyancy and self-awareness.

Standards

  • Learn about seahorse ecology and identification and understand the global and local threats to seahorse populations
  • Learn the diagnostic features for identifying seahorses and be able to identify the most common local species of seahorses
  • Know how to survey for seahorses using the roving diver and transect survey methods
  • Practice a seahorse survey completing at least two of the main tasks (surveying along the line, controlling the GPS raft, keeping track of dive activity timing)
  • Be familiar with the iSeahorse.org website and how to enter sightings data into the global database

Requirements

  • Attend 1 seahorse lecture
  • Attend 1 seahorse dive briefing
  • Complete ID quiz using dichotomous key and seahorse photos
  • Complete 1 seahorse survey dives (in 2 different roles)
  • Enter GPS data into Google Earth
  • Enter sightings and data into the iSeahorse.org and other relevant databases (if seahorse was observed)

Expected course time about 4 hours

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Citizen Science Collaborators

by Chad Scott

Koh Tao Training Courses

Training courses can currently be completed through the New Heaven Reef Conservation Program on Koh Tao, Thailand.

by Chad Scott

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

by Chad Scott