Applying cathodically polarised substrata to the restoration of a high value coral

Abstract

Larval settlement of the high value red coral, Corallium rubrum, was studied on three different CaCO₃ substrata, viz. lithogenic (marble), electro-accreted calcium carbonate in the presence and in the absence of cathodic polarisation. The last two substrata consisted of stainless steel plates galvanically coupled with Zn anodes. The electrochemical characterization of the settlement device was studied in order to investigate correlations between cathodic parameters (polarisation potential, current density, calcareous deposit composition) and larval settlement. The results obtained in the natural habitat (at 35 m depth) showed that settlement was five times lower on the electro-accreted aragonite in the presence of low cathodic current densities (i ≤ 1 μA cm⁻²) compared to both marble tiles and electro-accreted aragonite in the absence of polarisation. These last two substrata showed similar settlement values. The implications of these findings on restoration strategies for C. rubrum are discussed.

Keywords:

• octocoral
• Corallium rubrum
• restoration ecology
• larval settlement
• artificial substrata
• cathodic polarisation