Scientists Outplant Experimental 'Flonduran' Corals in Dry Tortugas

Experimental Outplanting in Dry Tortugas

In early April, a collaborative team of scientists and divers outplanted nearly three dozen lab-grown elkhorn corals (*Acropora palmata*) onto reefs in Florida’s Dry Tortugas National Park. The project included the introduction of "Flondurans," an experimental cross-breed of Florida and Honduran elkhorn corals. This marks the first time this specific hybrid has been introduced to the remote park, located approximately 70 miles from Key West.

The deployment involved placing 34 genetically diverse corals across three different reef sites within the park. The corals used in the project were two years old at the time of outplanting.

Collaborative Research Effort

The initiative was carried out by a partnership between the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, the U.S. Geological Survey's St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, and the National Park Service.

According to the University of Miami, the project is the next phase of an effort to directly compare the performance of new genetic diversity introduced from outside Florida under natural reef conditions. Researchers are specifically testing the resilience of these corals against warming oceans.

Context of Coral Decline

The deployment follows devastating marine heatwaves in 2023 that wiped out years of previous restoration efforts. By introducing genetic diversity from outside the region, scientists aim to determine if these hybrid corals can better survive the environmental stressors that have plagued native Florida populations.

Researchers identified Dry Tortugas National Park as a potentially key location for the recovery of the elkhorn species in Florida. The park's remote location and specific reef conditions provide a natural environment to test whether the "Flonduran" cross-breed can sustain itself and contribute to the long-term survival of the species.