Assessing Efficacy of Plastic-free Alternative Ties For Coral Propagation in Reef Restoration.
Reducing reliance on plastic materials is key to improving sustainability of coral reef restoration efforts and minimising impacts from their application. However, biodegradable materials have high microbial affinity and can have higher putative pathogen load compared to conventional plastics. Consequently using biodegradable materials in close proximity to coral fragments may cause unforeseen impacts to the coral microbiome. Here we tested five different materials in the form of zip-ties used to secure Acropora millepora coral fragments in floating nurseries in situ on the Great Barrier Reef and tracked the coral associated bacterial communities over time.