SOP: Measurement of phenotypic traits in the field (RRAP ECT2.1)

Updated: 2026-05-21

This is the standard operating procedure developed my the RRAP ECT 2.1 team to asses the growth, survival and colour of selectively bred coral deployed and assessed in the field. This was delivered as RRAP ECT 2.1 milestone 1.5.3-3Q2. In November spawning 2021, gametes from specific adult coral colonies were crossed to produce selectively bred Acropora hyacinthus (neat) juveniles. 10 families were chosen from the intra and inter-populational crosses. These juveniles were settled and then deployed onto the reef in February 2022 (Fantome, Palm Islands). Juvenile survival, growth and colour was remeasured in May 2022. The genetic sampling of remaining juveniles in May concluded this field experiment. The results of this experiment will compare survival and growth of inter-population and intra-population selectively bred corals deployed in the field, to determine whether trade-offs exist in hybrids.