Adding coral rubble to substrata enhances settlement of Pocilloporadamicornis larvae

Settlement preferences of Pocilloporadamicornis larvae were examined on artificial substrata. Planulation of P.damicornis followed a lunar cycle and the release of larvae occurred after new moon. P.damicornis larvae had the highest rates of settlement within 3days of being presented settlement substrata. Cumulative settlement gradually increased from 3 to 8days, and post-settlement mortality was most frequent after 8days. Settlement experiments showed greatest settlement preference to cement tiles containing 10% coral rubble. This study suggests that physical cues are important in the settlement process, which may be useful for coral reef rehabilitation projects.