OCS Study 

BOEM 2013-216 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 

Gulf of Mexico OCS Region

Cooperative Agreement 

Coastal Marine Institute 

Louisiana State University

Coastal Marine Institute

Corals on Oil and Gas Platforms Near 

the Flower Garden Banks: Population 

Characteristics, Recruitment, and 

Genetic Affinity
OCS Study 

BOEM 2013-216 

Published by 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 

Gulf of Mexico OCS Region

Cooperative Agreement 

Coastal Marine Institute 

Louisiana State University

Coastal Marine Institute

Corals on Oil and Gas Platforms Near 

the Flower Garden Banks: Population 

Characteristics, Recruitment, and 

Genetic Affinity 

Author 

Paul W. Sammarco 

December 2013 

Prepared under BOEM Cooperative Agreement 

M05AZ10668 (30951-17808) 

by 

Louisiana State University

Coastal Marine Institute

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 

iii

DISCLAIMER

This report was prepared under a cooperative agreement between the Bureau of Ocean 

Energy Management (BOEM) and Louisiana State University Coastal Marine Institute. This 

report has been technically reviewed by BOEM and has been approved for publication. 

Approval does not necessarily signify that the contents reflect the views and policies of BOEM,

nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or 

recommendation for use.

REPORT AVAILABILITY

To download a PDF file of this Gulf of Mexico OCS Region report, go to the U.S. 

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Environmental Studies 

Program Information System website and search on OCS Study BOEM 2013-216..

This report can be viewed at select Federal Depository Libraries. It can also be obtained 

from the National Technical Information Service; the contact information is below.

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Technical Information Service

5301 Shawnee Rd.

Springfield, Virginia 22312

Phone: (703) 605-6000, 1(800)553-6847

Fax: (703) 605-6900

Website: http://www.ntis.gov/

CITATION

Sammarco, Paul W. 2013. Corals on oil and gas platforms near the Flower Garden Banks: 

population characteristics, recruitment, and genetic affinity. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, LA. 

OCS Study BOEM 2013-216. pp. 106.

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

Amy D. Atchison, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Science, Louisiana State 

University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Gregory S. Boland, Environmental Section, Minerals Management Service, U.S. Department of 

the Interior, New Orleans, Louisiana

Daniel A. Brazeau, Pharmaceutical Genetics Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical 

Sciences, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York

Angela Lirette, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), Chauvin, Louisiana

Paul W. Sammarco, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), Chauvin, Louisiana

v

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Adult Coral Community and Coral Settlement Studies

Many thanks to all of the divers who assisted in sample collection: A. Barker, G. Boland, G. 

Bunch, C. Chauffe, S. Childs, J. Collins, J. Conklin, J. Culbertson, L. Dauterive, B. DeFelice, T. 

Dempre, D. Dowdy, T. Empey, C. Gentry, S. Kolian, H. Leedy, A. Lirette, L. Logan, D. Marcel, 

K. de Mutsert, D. Perrenod, G. Rainey, A. Sebastian, J. Sinclair, G. Speyrer, J. Van der Ham, K. 

Wheelock, and D. Woodall. A. Knight assisted with equipment design; H. Boudreaux, W. 

Hebert, C. Luke, and S. Parrott with accounting; J. Fontenot, D. Hill-House, A. Lirette, and F. 

Tung with data analysis; and C. Salmonsen with on-site assistance. We also thank the crew of 

the M/V Fling (Gulf Diving, Inc.): K. Bush, J. Byron, P. Combs, L. DeWeese, J. Dibble, D. 

Fanning, K. Foster, J. Heiser, Jason, S. Kerr, T. Kilpatrick, R. Widaman (at-sea/top-side 

support), and all the oil and gas companies and their staff who provided us access to their 

offshore platforms. Anadarko Petroleum: J. Davidson, S. Hathcock, S. Jensen; Apache Oil:J. 

Bordelon, G. Thibodaux; Chevron-Texaco Exploration and Production: D. Lucas, K. Mire, S. 

Ulm; Coastal Oil and Gas, Devon Oil: B. Gary, R. Hebert, V. Mile, B. Moody; Dominion 

Exploration and Production: B. Ventura, K. Schlogel, M. Sledge; El Paso Energy: C. Thornton, 

S. Lesiker; Forcenergy/Forest Oil: W. Fontenot, W. Myers, G. Ruiz; Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas: 

C. Bradford; Merit Energy: T. Lambert, P. Maiberger; Newfield Exploration: A. Comeaux, E. 

Haas, M. Prosper, J. Zernell; Noble Energy: S. Shuman; Offshore Energy; UNOCAL: D. 

Crusan, M. Hebert; Samedan Oil: R. Bemis, S. Berryhill, S. Mulbert, T. Spintzenberger, P. 

Tullos; and W&T Offshore: S. Schroeder. ADA thanks her parents for their support and advice. 

We also thank L. Rouse of Louisiana State University‘s Coastal Marine Institute and BOEM for 

their support and for funding this study. 

Molecular Genetics Study

We thank J. Benzie for suggesting the use of AFLPs on coral tissue for the molecular 

genetics and L. Rouse and M. Hellberg for helpful advice and comments that have greatly 

strengthened the study and manuscript. Many thanks to all the divers who assisted in sample 

collection: A. Barker, G. Boland, G. Bunch, C. Chauffe, S. Childs, J. Collins, J. Conklin, J. 

Culbertson, L. Dauterive, B. DeFelice, T. Dempre, D. Dowdy, T. Empey, C. Gentry, S. Kolian, 

H. Leedy, L. Logan, D. Marcel, K. de Mutsert, G. Rainey, A. Sebastian, J. Sinclair, G. Speyrer, 

J. Van der Ham, K. Wheelock, and D. Woodall. We also thank the crew of the M/V Fling (Gulf 

Diving, Inc.) and all oil and gas companies who provided us access to their offshore platforms: 

Anadarko Petroleum, Apache Oil, Coastal Oil and Gas, Devon Oil, Dominion Exploration and 

Production, El Paso Energy, Forcenergy/Forest Oil, Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas, Merit Energy, 

Newfield Exploration, Noble Energy, UNOCAL, Samedan Oil, Chevron-Texaco Exploration 

and Production, and W&T Offshore. ADA thanks her parents for their - support and advice. 

This project was funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service 

(MMS), now the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) (Cooperative Agreement 

#32806/TO#36188 to PWS), the Louisiana State University BOEM-Coastal Marine Institute, the 

Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, and the J. Bennett Johnston Science Foundation (to 

ADA). 

vii

CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... ix

LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... xi

ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS, and SYMBOLS ............................................................. xiii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................................................................xv

Adult Coral Community Study ................................................................................................xv

Coral Settlement Study ............................................................................................................xv

Molecular Genetics Study...................................................................................................... xvi

1.0 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................1

1.1 Expansion of Coral Communities within the Northern Gulf of Mexico through 

Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms......................................................................................1

1.1.1 Background: Geological, Biological and Regulatory Framework .........................1

1.1.2 Survey of Adult Corals on Platforms around the Flower Garden Banks: 

Questions Posed.................................................................................................4

1.2 Coral Larval Dispersal and Recruitment on Oil and Gas Platforms in the 

Northern Gulf of Mexico.................................................................................................4

1.2.1 Background.............................................................................................................4

1.2.2 Coral Reproduction, and Dispersal of Coral Larvae among Reefs and 

Platforms............................................................................................................5

1.2.3 Objectives...............................................................................................................6

1.3 Genetic Connectivity in Corals on the Flower Garden Banks and Surrounding 

Oil and Gas Platforms, Gulf of Mexico ..........................................................................6

1.3.1 Background.............................................................................................................6

1.3.2 Objectives...............................................................................................................9

1.4 Duration..........................................................................................................................9

2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS ..........................................................................................11

2.1 Adult Coral Community Surveys on the Platforms.......................................................11

2.2 Assessment of Coral Settlement on the Platforms ........................................................12

2.2.1 Experimental and Technical Designs, and Field Activities..................................12

2.2.2 Statistical Analyses...............................................................................................16

2.2.3 Technical Considerations and Alteration of Original Plan...................................16

2.3 Determining Genetic Connectivity in Corals on the Flower Garden Banks and 

Surrounding Oil and Gas Platforms, Gulf of Mexico ...................................................16

2.3.1 Study Site..............................................................................................................16

2.3.2 Sample Collection.................................................................................................16

2.3.3 Technique Used to Determine Genetic Affinity - Amplified Fragment 

Length Polymorphism (AFLP) ........................................................................17

2.3.4 Preparation of Coral Tissue Lysates for Genetic Analysis...................................18

2.3.5 Statistical Analyses...............................................................................................20
viii

3.0 RESULTS ...............................................................................................................................23

3.1 Adult Coral Communities on Platforms Surrounding the Flower Garden Banks.........23

3.1.1 The Effect of Distance from the Flower Garden Banks on Corals Located 

on Platforms.....................................................................................................23

3.1.2 Abundance of Hermatypic Corals on Platforms...................................................24

3.1.3 Species Diversity of Corals on Platforms.............................................................28

3.1.4 Depth Distribution of Corals on Platforms...........................................................29

3.1.5 Pattern-Seeking Analysis of Adult Coral Communities on Platforms. ................35

3.1.6 Coral Colony Size.................................................................................................35

3.2 Recruitment of Corals on Platforms..............................................................................36

3.3 Genetic Connectivity in Corals on the Flower Garden Banks and Surrounding 

Oil and Gas Platforms, Gulf of Mexico ........................................................................41

3.3.1 Madracis decactis (brooder).................................................................................41

3.3.2 Diploria strigosa (broadcaster).............................................................................53

3.3.3 Montastraea cavernosa (broadcaster) ..................................................................55

4.0 DISCUSSION.........................................................................................................................57

4.1 Adult Coral Communities on Platforms Surrounding the Flower Garden Banks.........57

4.2 Coral Recruitment on Northern Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Platforms ......................61

4.3 Genetic Connectivity in Corals on the Flower Garden Banks and Surrounding 

Oil and Gas Platforms, Gulf of Mexico ........................................................................65

5.0 CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................................71

5.1 Adult Coral Community Study......................................................................................71

5.2 Coral Settlement Study..................................................................................................72

5.3 Coral Molecular Genetics Study ...................................................................................72

REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................75
ix

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Map of the oil and gas platforms in the northern Gulf of Mexico.............................. 2

Figure 2. Map of the Flower Garden Banks and the 13 platforms used in this study................ 8

Figure 3. Coral spat settlement rack......................................................................................... 15

Figure 4. Map of Gulf of Mexico general currents ................................................................. 18

Figure 5. Coral densities compared with platforms age.......................................................... 26

Figure 6. Madracis decactis densities compared with platform age........................................ 27

Figure. 7. Tubastraea coccinea densities compared with platform age.................................... 28

Figure 8. Coral species richness compared with platform age................................................. 30

Figure 9. Coral species diversity compared with platforms age. ............................................. 31

Figure 10. Depth distribution of total hermatypic corals and of Madracis decactis.................. 32

Figure 11. Depth distribution of the coral Diploria strigosa. .................................................... 33

Figure 12. Depth distribution of Tubastraea coccinea. ............................................................. 34

Figure 13. Results of pattern-seeking analyses (PATN)............................................................ 35

Figure 14. East Flower Garden Bank compared with platforms, total coral spat ...................... 38

Figure 15. Individual platforms, total spat................................................................................. 39

Figure 16. Relative abundance of coral spat setting on oil and gas platforms........................... 40

Figure 17. Individual platforms, Tubastraea coccinea spat....................................................... 43

Figure 18. Individual settlement racks within platforms, Tubastraea coccinea spat l .............. 44

Figure 19. East Flower Garden Bank compared with platforms, Montastraea sp. spat. ........... 45

Figure 20. Individual settlement racks within platforms, Montastraea sp. spat........................ 46

Figure 21. AMOVA results, ΦST or genetic distance between populations compared with

inter-site distance, Madracis decactis....................................................................... 48

Figure 22. AMOVA results, ΦST or genetic distance between populations compared with 

distance from FGB’s, Madracis decactis. ................................................................ 49

Figure 23. AFLPOP analysis, self-allocation of colonies compared with distance from 

FGB’s, Madracis decactis........................................................................................ 50

Figure 24. AFLPOP analysis, allocation of colonies to sites compared with inter-site 

distance. .................................................................................................................... 51

Figure 25. AFLPOP analysis, site-allocation of colonies compared with inter-site distance, 

Madracis decactis..................................................................................................... 52

Figure 26. Coral spat density compared with distance, Great Barrier Reef and Gulf of 

Mexico data .............................................................................................................. 64

xi

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Details of Oil and Gas Platforms Studied................................................................. 12

Table 2. Oil and Gas Platforms and Coral Settlement Rack Deployment Dates.................... 14

Table 3. Sequences of the Adapters and Primers Used in the AFLP Protocol....................... 20

Table 4 Coral Species Observed on Oil and Gas Platforms, Northern Gulf of Mexico........ 24

Table 5 Colony Size of Madracis decactis............................................................................ 37

Table 6 Assessment of Genetic Differentiation among Populations of the Coral Madracis 

decactis Using AMOVA and AFLPOP.................................................................... 47

Table 7 Assessment of Genetic Differentiation among Populations of the Coral Diploria 

strigosa using AMOVA and AFLPOP..................................................................... 54

Table 8. Assessment of Genetic Differentiation Among Populations of the Coral 

Montastraea cavernosa using AMOVA and AFLPOP............................................ 56

xiii

ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS, AND SYMBOLS

AFLP Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism

AFLPOP Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Population 

Allocation Analysis

AMOVA Analysis of Molecular Variance

ANOVA Analysis of Variance

BOEM

FGB

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

NOAA Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

GOM

hrs

Gulf of Mexico

hours

km 

m

kilometers

meters

min

ft

no.

pg

s

x g

minutes

feet

number

picograms

second(s)

times gravity

xv

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

ADULT CORAL COMMUNITY STUDY

There are approximately 3,200 oil and gas platforms in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM). 

These platforms provide hard substratum that extends throughout the euphotic zone, in a region 

where such has been rare in recent geological time. Major exceptions to this are the coral reefs 

of the Flower Garden Banks (FGB), ~180 km S-SE of Galveston, Texas, which rise up to within 

17 m of the sea surface. In this study, we attempted to determine whether extensive scleractinian 

coral populations have colonized these platforms, quantify them, and determine their population 

and community characteristics. We also examined the relationship between these variables and 

distance from the FGB, platform age, and depth. Surveys were performed on 13 oil or gas 

production platforms down to 33 m depth, encompassing an ellipse around the FGB. Corals 

occurred in abundance on most of the platforms. Eleven species were found: eight hermatypic 

scleractinians, two ahermatypic scleractinians, and one hydrozoan coral. The most abundant 

corals were Madracis decactis, Diploria strigosa, and Tubastraea coccinea. Distance from the 

FGB was not related to the coral community variables measured, including total coral 

abundances of the dominant three species in shallow water (< 14 m.), deep water (14-33 m), or 

both depths combined. Total coral abundance increased significantly with platform age, and the 

community was best developed on platforms > 12-15 years in age. Abundance of M. decactis 

increased significantly with platform age in the deeper zone and both depths combined, as did 

coral species diversity (S). This was not the case with D. strigosa, indicating that it may not be 

associated with any particular successional sere. Neither was T. coccinea abundance associated 

with platform age, except in shallow water, where it decreased in abundance with age, indicating 

that this species may be an opportunistic pioneer species. All corals exhibited a significantly 

non-uniform depth distribution, with total coral abundance peaking at ~20 m and 28 m depths. 

The bimodal depth distribution of M. decactis exhibited a disproportionately high peak at depths 

> 27 m. D. strigosa exhibited peaks at depths of ~10 m and 23 m and was not found at depths >

27 m. T. coccinea exhibited a near-normal distribution, with a single mode at ~17 m depth. 

Platforms have facilitated expansion of coral populations in the GOM. Such platforms have 

intrinsic environmental value through the presence of coral populations and this may influence 

future decisions about their decommissioning (removal). 

CORAL SETTLEMENT STUDY

The FGB are two of the very few true coral reefs in the northern GOM. There are other 

recognized coral reefs in the southern GOM, such as at Tampico, Mexico and the eastern GOM 

in the Florida Keys. There are also a couple of mesophotic reefs in the northern GOM that boast 

significant amounts of hermatypic corals and may be considered to be true coral reefs; these 

include corals at Pulley Ridge in the eastern GOM and McGrail Bank near the shelf edge in the 

central GOM. Numerous other banks in the northern GOM support significant coral 

communities that include a variety of corals, sponges, and other reef invertebrates but these are 

not actively accreting coral reefs. The offshore oil and gas platforms deployed in the northern 

GOM were the first set of structures in shallow-water in this region since the Holocene, 

providing substratum for colonization for corals. Because scleractinian corals are sessile 

epibenthic organisms, the only means of dispersal for them is by larval dispersal and settlement. 
xvi

To assess coral recruitment rates on oil and gas platforms around the FGB, terracotta settlement 

plates were mounted on racks, deployed on, and retrieved from six platforms at depths of 15 and 

27 m for a period of one to two years. Plates were analyzed in the laboratory with a dissecting 

microscope for taxonomic identification, distribution, and abundance. 

Density of coral spat settling on plates on the platforms was extraordinarily low when 

compared with other Caribbean sites or the Great Barrier Reef-averaging < 1/450 cm2 -over a 

period of 10-12 months. This emphasizes the uniqueness and fragility of these artificial reef sites 

in comparison to natural sites. There was no significant difference between platforms with 

respect to spat density, suggesting that the distance between the platforms and the E-FGB-their 

potential larval source, was large enough (> 0.6-1.2 km, as determined by Sammarco and 

Andrews, 1988) to allow diffusion of larvae, suppressing larval densities. There was a 

significant difference between coral spat densities on the platforms compared with those directly 

on the E-FGB (derived from a sister experiment). Only three species of coral spat were found: T.

coccinea, Montastraea sp. (most likely Montastraea cavernosa), and Madracis sp. (most likely 

M. decactis), in order of abundance. This species composition varied substantially from the 

dominant genera of spat observed on the E-FGB: Agaricia and Porites. The observed 

recruitment was also unusual in that the dominant recruits matched the dominant adults in the 

community. Tubastraea and Montastrea spat densities did not vary significantly between 

platforms or between racks. The platforms in the northern GOM generally exhibit very low 

levels of coral recruitment for the tropical western Atlantic. Nonetheless, this recruitment has 

permitted the development of adult coral communities on these platforms and their associated 

benthic, demersal, and pelagic biota over the past ~30 years. These communities should be 

considered fragile because of their slow development rate. Mass coral mortality on these

platforms would require decades for recovery. 

MOLECULAR GENETICS STUDY

At the time of this study, the northern GOM held ~3,600 offshore oil and gas structures. 

These structures serve as artificial reefs on the continental shelf, where, until their introduction, 

shallow hard substrata were rare. This newly available substrate has helped to expand 

scleractinian coral populations in the GOM. Here, we conduct molecular genetic analyses on 

adult scleractinian corals on the FGB coral reefs (~180 km S-SE of Galveston, Texas [TX]) and 

on surrounding oil and gas platforms. We have attempted to determine the degree of genetic 

affinity among the natural populations and those on the surrounding platforms. The three species 

collected were the most abundant hermatypic scleractinians: M. decactis, D. strigosa, and M.

cavernosa. Tissue samples were collected from the E-FGB and W-FGB, and seven platforms 

within a 65 km radius, at a depth range of 5-37 m. Genetic variation was assessed using 

Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs). The large number of polymorphic 

markers generated by AFLPs allowed for the use of standard genetic analysis tools (AMOVA) as 

well as population allocation techniques (AFLPOP). The AMOVA analyses indicated that the Eand W-FGB were genetically homogeneous for M. decactis and D. strigosa populations. M.

cavernosa populations, however, were significantly different between banks. In all species, 

genetic distance (ΦST) increased significantly with geographic distance between populations. In 

the brooding species M. decactis, this pattern was even stronger when one considered the 

shortest distance between platforms and the nearest perimeter of the FGB, particularly the 

nearest FGB, suggesting that the FGB may be a source of larvae for platform populations. The 
xvii

AFLPOP analyses showed that the degree of self-allocation to home sites also increased with 

inter-site distance. Cross allocations between sites dropped significantly and exponentially in all 

species within only one to several kilometers of the FGB. M. decactis, a brooder with extended 

larval release periods and near-immediate settlement competence, shows greater affinity to the 

FGB with distance than D. strigosa, a broadcaster. This brooder appears to be more effective at 

colonizing small, nearby target sites and expanding its geographic range at the meso-scale. The 

low degree of genetic affinity exhibited by all species on the platforms may be attributed to 

genetic drift/founder effect or relatively small population sizes, although total populations were 

sampled. In general, genetic affinity decreased with inter-site distance. Young coral populations 

are highly differentiated at the meso-scale during early stages of community succession, 

implying that much time and repeated colonization of patchy habitats around larger potential 

larval sources will be required before genetic equilibrium or homogeneity is reached. 

1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 EXPANSION OF CORAL COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE NORTHERN GULF OF 

MEXICO THROUGH OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS PLATFORMS

1.1.1 Background: Geological, Biological and Regulatory Framework

Approximately 40,000 oil and gas wells have been drilled in the northern Gulf of Mexico 

(GOM) since the 1940s (Francois, 1993). There were ~3,200 platforms servicing these wells in 

2011 (USDOI, BOEM, 2012). These platforms act as hard substratum for many reef organisms 

to settle on and grow (Gallaway and Lewbel, 1981; Driessen, 1989, Bright et al., 1991; Adams,

1996; Boland, 2002; K. Deslarzes, pers. comm.). The continental shelf in the northern GOM is a 

region where very little hard substratum either exists now or has existed in recent geological time 

(Curray, 1965a,b; Blum et al., 2001; also see Frost, 1977; Schroeder et al., 1995; Blum et al., 

1998). The Flower Garden Banks (FGB), which rise to within 18 m of the surface, are the most 

remarkable exceptions for the Gulf and support thriving coral populations (Rezak et al., 1985;

Bright et al., 1992; Gittings 1992, 1998). 

There are 37 named banks protected by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

in the northern GOM including the two FGB, which developed on top of two salt diapirs (Gross 

& Gross 1995) at the edge of the continental shelf. Those banks that occur offshore in “blue 

water” (e.g., Rankin-1, Rankin-2, Bright, Geyer, Elvers, Claypile, etc; Rezak et al., 1985; LugoFernandez et al., 2001; Boland, pers. obs.), which might be able to support substantial coral 

reefs, are too deep or lack other appropriate environmental conditions to do so. A number of 

banks do have limited populations of reef-building corals but are not sufficiently developed to be 

considered true coral reefs – reefs built entirely of calcium-carbonate, particularly secreted by 

hermatypic corals. Examples include Stetson, Bright, Sonnier and MacNeil Banks, the last of 

which has recently been shown to support a sizeable coral community at the depth limits of these 

organisms (Schmahl, 2003). The FGB represent the only banks that possess thriving coral reefs 

in the northern Gulf (Rezak et al., 1985; Sammarco et al., 2002; Sammarco and Atchison, 2003) 

and are considered to be among the most isolated coral reefs in the western Atlantic (Bright, 

1981; Rezak et al., 1985; Snell et al., 1998) and the healthiest (Bright et al., 1992; Gittings, 1992; 

Gittings et al., 1992 a,b; Sammarco et al., submitted) coral reefs in the western Atlantic. The 

sister banks of the FGB could potentially act as a source of larvae for the platforms, but it is

more likely that the FGB represent the primary larval source, simply because of the magnitude of 

their resident coral populations. 
2

Figure 1. Map of the northern GOM, indicating location of oil and gas platforms present in 2003.

The GOM has experienced several sea level changes in recent geological history (Curray,

1965a, b; Blum et al., 2001; also see Frost, 1977; Schroeder et al., 1995; Blum et al., 1998). 

During stands of 30 m below present sea level, deeper banks would have been at shallow enough

depths to support coral reefs. Provided that seawater temperatures were high enough, it is likely 

that the northern GOM supported dozens of coral reefs during this period, judging by the 

distribution of these banks, at the edge of the continental shelf (Rezak et al., 1985). The 

relatively short distances between them most likely allowed exchange of coral larvae relatively 

easily through the Island Model of gene flow (Futuyma, 1998). As sea level rose, however, over 

the past 6,000-10,000 years, the reefs drowned, and the FGB now represent the only coral reefs 

in the northern GOM. “Drowned” coral reefs are those that could not accrete calcium carbonate 

layers fast enough to keep pace with sea level rise. Eventually the corals were starved of the 

light necessary to support the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that live in their tissues, supply a 

large part of their diet, and facilitate the precipitation of calcium carbonate. The nearest shallow 

reefs to the FGB are off the northern coast of Yucatan peninsula (Alacran and associated reefs650 km, Tampico, Mexico (700 km), and the Florida Keys (1,089 km). External sources for 

seeding the FGB are unknown at present. From what is known about current regimes in the 

region, sources of larvae may include the above north Mexican areas (Salas-de-Leon et al., 

1998). These larvae would be transported by the Western Boundary Current (Vidal et al., 1999) 

or larvae may be drawn from the Cozumel and Cancun regions and these larvae would be 

transported north by the Caribbean Current into the Gulf and then west via the Loop Current 

(Sturges and Blama, 1976; Hamilton et al., 1999). Recent data suggest that currents may be able 

to transport biological material from the Florida Keys, including the Tortugas Bank and Pulley 

Ridge (Jarrett et al., 2000; also see Meyers et al., 2001) to the western GOM. Data on the 

molecular genetics of coral spat at the FGB, however, suggest that corals are not being seeded 
3

from the eastern Gulf. The coral spat there show no genetic affinity to adult populations in the 

Bahamas and Florida Keys (Brazeau et al., 2005), and these data suggest that the FGB are selfseeded, at least with respect to the brooding species Agaricia agaricites. Recent physical 

oceanographic research using drifters deployed during nights of broadcaster spawning supports 

these findings. Lugo-Fernandez (1998; Lugo-Fernandez et al., 2001) has demonstrated mesoscale patterns of circulation in the vicinity of the FGB, which could drive self-seeding there 

(Sammarco and Heron, 1994 for a general discussion). Work continues on affinities between 

adults and spat in this region. 

When oil and gas platforms were introduced into the GOM in the 1940s (Francois, 1993), 

they represented the only substratum other than the FGB and a few other banks in shallow water 

capable of supporting coral communities. In the absence of these structures, survivorship of 

coral larvae derived from the FGB or other reefs in the northern GOM would clearly have been 

much lower due to mortality in the water column after extensive dispersal, attempts to settle on 

soft bottom, or being transported into nearshore habitats unsuitable for settlement (low salinity, 

low temperatures, high turbidity, etc.). Earlier studies have shown that a single platform in 33 m 

of water exposes ~8,100 m2 of hard surface to the surrounding waters (Shinn 1974). 

Before this study was done, the presence of scleractinian corals on the platforms had not been 

extensively investigated. Some observations had been made of corals on the platforms, along 

with some documentation (Bright et al., 1991; Boland, 2002; K. Deslarzes, pers. comm., pers. 

obs. all authors), but no quantitative studies had been performed. The expansion of organisms, 

both terrestrial and marine, via “leap-frogging” or “stepping stone” mechanisms, has been well 

documented (Elton, 1977; Futuyma, 1998). In the case of reef fish, such expansions of 

distributions have been afforded anthropogenically by introducing new suitable habitat, such as 

oil and gas platforms (Shinn, 1973; Winfield, 1973; Sonnier, et al., 1976; Boland et al., 1983;

Shinn and Wicklund, 1989; Pattengill et al., 1997; Rooker et al., 1997; Childs, 1998; Love et al.,

2000; but see Schroeder et al., 2000). At a time when coral reefs at the global level are 

experiencing a severe decline in health and mass coral mortalities because of bleaching, poor 

fishing techniques, nutrient enrichment, etc. (Sammarco, 1996; Souter and Linden, 2000;

Hughes et al., 2003; McClanahan et al., 2008), it is important to determine whether systems exist 

where coral populations are expanding their distributions. 

According to federal legislation, all oil and gas platforms introduced into U.S. waters within 

a lease block (usually ~4.8 x 4.8 km) must be removed within one year after the end of all 

production activities within a lease block (BSEE Regulation 30 CFR 250.1718). Some platforms 

are used by the states bordering the GOM in their Rigs-to-Reefs Programs (e.g., Louisiana, 

Texas, Alabama, Florida; Dauterive, 2000). These programs are administered in cooperation 

with the U.S. Department of the Interior, BOEM. Through these programs, the platforms are 

permitted to either remain on site or are brought to a State-approved location and are used as 

artificial reefs. Scleractinian corals occurring on natural substratum are protected from harvest 

and take by federal legislation (Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation Management Act, 

1975, amended Oct. 11, 1996; Public Law 94-265) and are protected from trade by international 

treaty. These laws may have implications for coral populations present on platforms. If corals 

are present on them, the structures may have environmental value and may be benefitting the 
4

environment as artificial reefs. Here, for the first time the extent to which corals have colonized 

these platforms is being elucidated. 

1.1.2 Survey of Adult Corals on Platforms around the Flower Garden Banks: 

Questions Posed

Here, we pose several questions regarding these platforms: 

1. Being situated in sub-tropical waters, do they harbor any coral populations? 

2. If so, which species? 

3. How does coral density and species diversity relate to platform age? 

4. How do these variables relate to distance or bearing of a platform from the FGB, 

indicating that the FGB may be a possible source of larvae for the platforms? 

5. How does density and species distribution relate to depth? 

6. What is the average colony size on the platforms? 

7. How does colony size relate to platform age and distance from the FGB, respectively? 

1.2 CORAL LARVAL DISPERSAL AND RECRUITMENT ON OIL AND GAS 

PLATFORMS IN THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO

1.2.1 Background

Most of the 3,600 production platforms currently in the Gulf are located in the coastal shelf 

waters of Louisiana and Texas (Francois, 1993) where the bottom is characterized almost 

entirely by soft sediment (Rezak et al., 1985). Before the advent of production platforms, hard 

substratum was limited to relatively scarce, scattered banks and shoals, often in deep water 

(mesophotic or depths having low light) (Rezak et al., 1985), as were the organisms requiring 

this type of habitat. The advent of these platforms provided thousands of artificial islands that 

have introduced suitable substratum from the seabed to the surface for settlement over a large 

geographic area where otherwise little or none has existed in recent geological history. 

Coral reefs of the FGB are considered to be among the most isolated in the western Atlantic 

(Bright, 1981; Snell et al., 1998; Sammarco et al., 2004; Precht et al., 2008). Corals are sessile, 

epibenthic organisms and colonization of new habitats such as the FGB is achieved via larval 

dispersal. The FGB are isolated by hundreds to thousands of kilometers from well-developed 

neighboring true coral reefs (Rezak et al., 1985; Sammarco et al., 2004), which could potentially 

serve as sources of coral larvae for colonization there. Coral larvae can potentially travel such 

distances to successfully settle on remote reefs (Richmond, 1982, 1987). There are submerged 

banks possessing coral communities near the FGB and elsewhere on the northern shelf. The 

coral populations there are relatively limited, compared to the FGB, and the banks are not true 

coral reefs because they are not geologically biogenic in origin. The FGB represent a healthy 

coral community with a well-developed adult coral community (Gittings, 1992), mass coral 

spawning (Bright et al., 1992; Gittings et al., 1992a,b), and high recruitment levels (Brazeau et 

al., 2008, 2011). Gittings (1992) suggested that the reefs were self-sustaining, primarily because 

of self-seeding of coral larvae within the Bank system. 

A high degree of self-seeding is not necessarily a sign of long-term ecosystem stability. Selfseeding in an isolated system can be risky, because the system is almost entirely dependent upon 
5

itself for producing viable larvae and having them recruit locally (Sammarco, 1996; Gold et al., 

2001; Palumbi, 2003; Faunce, 2005; Froukh and Kochzius, 2007). For example, in the late 

1970s and early 1980s, the highly isolated reefs of the Pacific coast of Panama suffered mass 

coral mortality due to coral bleaching caused by El Niño and associated high seawater 

temperatures, producing local coral species extinctions (Glynn, 1983). Two hydrocoral species 

were driven locally extinct (Glynn and de Weerdt, 1991). Isolation by distance and associated 

low recruitment levels can place a site at high risk of local extinction (Sammarco,, 1994; 

Hawkins et al., 2000; Graham et al., 2006). Re-seeding of these communities must come from 

neighboring communities and, if distant, may require long periods of time (MacArthur and 

Wilson, 1967). Generally, the more remote a site is, the longer the recovery time. This is 

because the probability of a particle encountering a site after being released from another site is a 

function of the inverse of the square of the distance between the two sites (Okubo, 1980, 1994; 

Okubo and Levin, 1989). Time required for population regeneration is also determined in large 

part by the density of adults and the balance between cross-seeding (connectedness between 

coral communities) and self-seeding (where larvae are derived from within the same 

community). 

Prior to this study, it was not known to what degree the platforms in the vicinity of the FGB 

experience coral recruitment, i.e., the rates of settlement of corals. In fact, little is known about 

coral recruitment in the GOM. In the first experiment in this region on this topic, Baggett and 

Bright (1985) found that recruitment on a platform was very low if not absent, even at close 

distances to the FGB. They examined coral recruitment on the East Flower Garden Bank and the 

nearby platform HI-A-389. They determined that coral recruitment was absent on this platform, 

despite the fact that it was located directly to the east of the E-FGB, 2.1 km from the 30 m 

isobath of the reef cap. All platforms considered in this study are located at greater distances 

than this from the FGB. 

It is possible that platforms at distances up to ~50 km are being seeded by larvae derived 

from coral populations on the FGB. If recruitment is high across many of the platforms, then the 

presence of adult coral populations and their recruits on the platforms could be contributing to 

the stability of the coral community on the FGB or other banks (Lugo-Fernandez et al., 1998, 

2001; also see Deslarzes, 1998). The process of successful colonization and possible "islandhopping" by larvae (Futuyma, 1998) as a dispersal mechanism may be operating in this system 

of patchily distributed habitats (Bright et al., 1991; Holland et al., 1992; G. Boland, pers. obs., 

pers. comm., unpub. data; K. Deslarzes, pers. comm.). Before any of these questions can be 

addressed, basic data need to be collected regarding coral recruitment on oil and gas platforms 

surrounding the FGB. 

1.2.2 Coral Reproduction, and Dispersal of Coral Larvae among Reefs and 

Platforms

Currently, our understanding of factors affecting the genetic diversity of scleractinian coral 

populations, either within a reef system or among them, is limited. Gene flow is one of the most 

important processes determining the genetic structure and diversity of populations (Mayr, 1970). 

Since coral adults are sessile, dispersal of coral planulae is largely responsible for gene flow 

among populations (Sammarco, 1986). Thus, defining the sources and sinks of their larvae is 
6

critical to understanding factors influencing coral genetic diversity, stability, and the role which 

individual reefs or structures play in maintaining that diversity. 

Corals exhibit two primary modes of sexual reproduction. Brooders have internal 

fertilization of sperm and egg and develop their planula larvae internally (Harrison and Wallace, 

1990). Corals with external fertilization (broadcast spawners) have larvae that spend more time 

in the plankton and have potential for wider dispersal and a lower self-seeding capacity 

(Sammarco and Andrews, 1989; Sammarco, 1994). Corals that brood their larvae may have 

more of a tendency to self-seed their own (natal) reefs or structures of origin (in this case, 

platforms) (Szmant, 1984, 1986; Sammarco and Andrews, 1988, 1989; Grosberg, 1991). 

It is important to understand whether recruits arriving at a platform are derived from 

brooding or broadcasting corals. This information can provide insight into the ability of certain 

platforms to seed neighboring areas and reciprocally seed nearby banks, such as the FGB 

(Sammarco, 1996). 

1.2.3 Objectives

The questions raised in this portion of the study are: 

a) What are the densities of coral recruitment on oil and gas platforms 

surrounding the FGB, within a maximum radius of 45 km? 

b) What is the species distribution and abundance of those recruits? 

c) Do coral recruit density, distribution, and abundance vary among the 

platforms and the FGB? 

d) Does recruitment vary significantly among platforms? 

e) Does recruitment vary significantly among replicate settlement racks within 

platforms? 

f) Are recruitment rates similar to other known rates in the Caribbean?

This information will help provide new information on the environmental value of the 

platforms as artificial reefs in the GOM. It will also provide information to assist in the decisionmaking process regarding whether individual platforms should be retrieved, left in place, 

toppled, or dismantled at the end of their useful lifespan. 

1.3 GENETIC CONNECTIVITY IN CORALS ON THE FLOWER GARDEN BANKS AND 

SURROUNDING OIL AND GAS PLATFORMS, GULF OF MEXICO

1.3.1 Background

Offshore oil and gas platforms in the northern GOM, numbering as many as 3,600 at the time 

of writing (Dauterive, 2000; Sammarco et al., 2004; G. Boland, pers. comm.), have served as 

substrate for the colonization of numerous marine organisms since the 1940s. This region is 

generally characterized by terrigenous sandy and siltymuds (silt-clay muds) with little habitat 

diversity (Rezak et al., 1983, Scarborough-Bull, 1989). The platforms extend up through the 

euphotic zone, providing hard substrate in open water (Shinn, 1974) that would otherwise be 
7

unavailable to such marine organisms. A 200-ft-tall platform jacket can provide thousands of 

square meters of hard substrate which can support algae, barnacles, bivalves, and other sessile, 

epibenthic invertebrates (Driessen, 1989, Scarborough-Bull, 1989). Scleractinian corals, 

including Diploria spp., Porites astreoides, Madracis decactis, M. asperula, and Millepora 

alcicornis, have been found on various platforms in the GOM (Bright et al., 1991; Sammarco et 

al., 2004). 

The NOAA Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (Dokken et al., 2002) is 

located among these platforms in the northern GOM (~180 km S-SE of Galveston, TX). There 

are two banks: the East Bank (27o54’32” N, 93o36’ W) and West Bank (27o52’27” N, 93o48’47” 

W; Bright et al., 1984; Rezak et al., 1983; Figure 2). Coral reefs have developed on their caps 

(Bright et al., 1984; Dokken et al., 1999), rising to within 18 m of the sea surface (LugoFernandez et al., 2001). They are productive (Rezak et al., 1985), healthy reefs, characterized by 

24 species of hermatypic corals (Bright et al., 1984; Dokken et al., 2002), including M. decactis, 

Diploria strigosa, Montastraea cavernosa, and other species (Gittings et al., 1992; LugoFernandez et al., 2001). These are the only two major coral reefs in the northern GOM. The 

FGB are separated by > 640 km of open ocean from other well-developed coral reefs (Hagman et 

al., 1998a; Sammarco et al., 2004); the closest reef system is Lobos-Tuxpan, located 13 km off 

Cabo Rojo, Mexico (Dokken et al., 2002; Figure 2). There are other banks on the northwestern 

GOM shelf, including Stetson, Sonnier, 32 Fathom, etc., but they are not true coral reefs; that is, 

the benthic substratum is not biogenic (composed of calcium carbonate that has been accreted by 

corals). Corals are present there, but cover is generally low (Rezak et al., 1985; Lugo-Fernandez 

et al., 2001; Schmahl, 2003; Sammarco et al,. 2004; G. Boland, pers. obs.). It is possible that 

coral populations on these banks could be a source of larvae for platform colonization, but the 

densities of corals are low. The level of their impact on recruitment is unknown.

We studied three hermatypic scleractinian coral species on oil and gas platforms near the 

FGB and on the FGB themselves, to assess the degree of genetic connectedness among the 

natural and platform populations. Three species were chosen based on their abundance and 

different reproductive strategies (Atchison et al., 2006). These were M. decactis (Lyman, 1859; 

Pocilloporidae), a brooder, and two broadcasters, D. strigosa (Dana, 1846; Faviidae) and M.

cavernosa (Linnaeus, 1767; Faviidae). M. decactis is a simultaneous hermaphrodite that releases 

planulae from March to December, with maximum release occurring from September to 

November (Vermeij et al., 2003). 
8

Figure 2. Map of the GOM depicting the location of the FGB and the nearest neighboring reefs (e.g., 

the Lobos-Tuxpan reef system and Campeche Bank reefs). Inset: Map depicting the study

sites, including the FGB and seven of the thirteen offshore platforms sampled in this study. 

Only the FGB and seven platforms possessed coral populations of the target species: (1) HIA-568A; (2) HI-A-571A; (3) HI-A-376A; (4) HI-A-370A; (5) WC-630A; (6) WC-618; and (7) 

WC-643A. 

There is an abundant literature regarding brooding compared with broadcasting in numerous 

marine species (Hellberg et al., 2002; Taylor and Hellberg, 2003; Jones et al., 2005), but we will 

limit our comments here to corals. The fully-developed larvae of brooding corals are competent 

to settle in ≥ 4 hrs (Harrison and Wallace, 1990). These species typically become reproductive at 

younger ages (1-2 years) than broadcast spawners (≥ 4 years). Brooders can also planulate 

monthly, releasing larvae 8-10 times each year (McGuire, 1998) for a period of days before and 

after their peak release date. Broadcast coral spawning is usually seasonal, occurring over only 

one to several days during the summer, being synchronized with a lunar phase and occurring 

during a single month (Harrison and Wallace, 1990). The resultant embryos require 4-7 days for 

development. Mass spawning in corals occurs on the FGB (Gittings et al., 1992, Hagman et al,. 

1998a,b) as it does elsewhere in the Atlantic (de Graaf et al., 1999) and the Pacific. Spawning in 

D. strigosa, M. cavernosa, and other broadcasting species on the FGB (Bright et al., 

1991,Gittings et al., 1992; Hagman et al., 1998a,b) is synchronous with other Caribbean reefs 

(Lugo-Fernandez et al., 2001). 
9

Some coral studies suggest that brooders are effective at short-distance dispersal, while

broadcast spawners are adapted for longer-distance dispersal on and between reefs (Baums et al., 

2005). After planulae are fully developed, however, the potential for long-range dispersal is 

most likely comparable between brooders and broadcasters (Sammarco and Andrews, 1989;

Sammarco, 1994). 

1.3.2 Objectives

Here we will do the following with respect to molecular genetics of corals in the study 

region. 

• Examine genetic affinities among populations of the scleractinian corals M. decactis, D.

strigosa, and M. cavernosa, respectively–one brooder and two broadcasters–on the FGB and 

on a set of offshore platforms surrounding them in the first phase of this ongoing study. 

These platforms represent the proximal platforms around the FGB. 

• Examine the degree of connectedness between coral populations on the natural reefs and the 

surrounding platforms, the degree of self-allocation, and the degree of connectivity among

neighboring platforms themselves. 

• Examine effectiveness of colonization of the platforms by brooding compared with

broadcasting species, as it pertains to an island-hopping strategy of colonization (MacArthur 

and Wilson, 1967; Maltagliati et al., 2002; Atchison, 2005; Baums et al., 2005). 

• Data regarding M. decactis and D. strigosa were preliminarily analyzed by Atchison et al., 

(2006). We will expand those analyses to include M. cavernosa and apply a more 

conservative statistical analytical approach to examine the data, based on the results of 

extensive simulations, and examine the data from a more detailed geographic perspective. 

1.4 DURATION

This initial phase of the study ran for four years, from 2000 through 2003. A variety of 

circumstances, such as hurricanes, caused in cruise delays and extended the study two years 

beyond the projected original anticipated date of completion. The first and second years were 

spent surveying the platforms, sampling coral populations on the selected platforms, and 

deploying coral settlement racks. We also conducted preliminary statistical analyses. Plates 

deployed during the first and second years of the study were retrieved during the second and 

third years and processed for coral spat. Analysis of adult samples continued, adults and spat 

were genetically finger-printed, and statistical analyses of the data were initiated during the 

fourth year. Several reports were prepared during the course of the study and submitted to 

BOEM. 

11

2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1 ADULT CORAL COMMUNITY SURVEYS ON THE PLATFORMS 

To address questions regarding adult coral populations on platforms surrounding the FGB, 

we initiated a set of field surveys and experiments, followed by laboratory analyses. To 

determine whether platforms support substantial coral communities, we chartered a dive vessel 

(M/V Fling, Freeport, Texas) and surveyed 13 oil and gas platforms over a period of two years 

(Table 1). Surveys were conducted with teams of SCUBA divers during the summer and fall of 

2001 and the 2002. The sample platforms fell within a narrow ellipse ranging from 10 to 15 km

west of the FGB to 50 km east of the FGB and 10 to 15 km north (Figure 2). Divers examined 

the platform jackets from the surface down to a depth of 33 m. Data were collected on the 

following variables: 1) numbers of scleractinian and hydrozoan corals; 2) depth of occurrence; 

and 3) species identification. 

Data were standardized to density by estimating the area surveyed. In this report, “density” 

refers to no./unit area; “abundance” refers to general numbers of organisms. Architectural 

structural drawings of the platform jackets were obtained from the oil and gas companies 

concerned. Total surface area was estimated for each platform, for each 3 m interval of depth. 

Areas were standardized to compensate for horizontal support structures, which occurred at 10-

15 m and 24-27 m. The number of colonies added at a given depth by these structures were 

divided by area at that depth and included in analyses as a single sample.

Data on coral colony size was also collected. Because of time restrictions at depth, however, 

only a limited amount of data could be collected and only the most abundant species received 

attention. Size was estimated by measuring the length of the longest axis of the colony and the 

widest width (Sammarco, 1980, 1982). Area was estimated by calculating elliptical area. 

Data were also gathered about the platforms themselves. The date of installation was 

determined from BOEM records (Table 1). Distance of the platforms from the nearest reef 

perimeter, and their bearing from the FGB, was determined by nautical charts, also provided by 

BOEM. 

Standard parametric univariate statistical analyses were performed on the data. Data were 

transformed by square-root (Y+0.5) where necessary for purposes of normalization (Sokal and 

Rohlf, 1981). Kolmogorov-Smirnov Frequency Tests of Independence were performed on the 

coral depth distribution data to test for variation from a uniform distribution. (The bins, or depth 

categories, are chosen on the basis of frequencies of corals within each. The analyses cannot be 

performed on bins with less than a certain number of corals in them.) A multivariate patternseeking analysis entitled PATN (Belbin, 1995) was performed on coral community data derived 

from experimental platforms, using square-root transformations where necessary. This analysis 

used the Bray-Curtis metric (Bray and Curtis, 1957) and classified the samples by the 

progressive fusion strategy variously known as the “error sum of squares” (Ward, 1963) or 

“incremental sum of squares” (Burr, 1970) technique. Details of statistical tests will be 

presented in the figure and table legends. Only significant results will be discussed. 
12

Table 1.

Details of Oil and Gas Platforms Studied

Platform

MMS 

No. Owner Lat. Long.

Date of 

Deployment

Age at 

Time of 

Sampling 

(years)

Distance 

from FGB 

perim. (km)

Bearing 

from 

FGB 

(degrees)

EC-317B 23361 Merit Energy 28.20839 92.95187 1989 12 52.30 65

HI-A-330A 10067

El Paso/Coastal 

Oil & Gas 28.09624 93.47840 1975 26 14.08 46

HI-A-349B 10096

El Paso/Coastal 

Oil & Gas 28.07030 93.46913 1977 24 12.87 51

HI-A-370A 10060 Kerr-McGee 27.98545 93.45840 1976 25 10.86 68

HI-A-376A 10175 Anadarko 27.96197 93.67089 1981 20 2.01 44

HI-A-382 10300

Apache Oil; 

UNOCAL 27.91319 93.93510 1986 15 6.44 276

HI-A-385C 28001 Kerr-McGee 27.91682 93.91682 1994 7 3.22 314

HI-A-368B 463

El Paso/Coastal 

Oil & Gas 27.97170 93.51782 1999 2 5.23 66

HI-A-568A 10133 Samedan 27.97627 94.14394 1979 22 24.46 283

HI-A-571A 10116 W&T Offshore 27.95564 94.02712 1978 23 15.05 283

WC-618 23286 Newfield 28.03671 93.23121 1986 15 30.18 71

WC-630A 22031 Forcenergy 28.00344 93.29414 1977 24 24.14 74

WC-643A 21757 Texaco 27.98137 93.03419 1975 26 48.68 81

2.2 ASSESSMENT OF CORAL SETTLEMENT ON THE PLATFORMS

2.2.1 Experimental and Technical Designs, and Field Activities

The experimental design to assess coral settlement on the platforms followed a one-way, 

nested replicated design (Sokal and Rohlf, 1981). The primary factor was the study platforms. 

Racks were deployed on 13 platforms (see Table 2 for complete details). The original design 

was to expose settlement plates for a period of one year, retrieve the settlement racks, and redeploy a replacement set of racks at the same sites for a second year. This would allow 

sufficient time for growth of spat into a size suitable for visual recognition with a dissecting 

microscope in the laboratory, taxonomic identification, and sampling of tissue for molecular 

genetic analysis. The original design called for placement of three racks at 15 and 27 m, 

respectively. Five replicate plates were attached to each rack for a total of 30 racks. 

Ceramic terracotta tiles (Versatile®, Canton, OH; unglazed, vitreous - partially glass, ceramic 

quarry tiles) were used as settling substratum. Each plate was 15 x 15 cm or 225 cm

2

for one 

side, for a total of 450 cm2 for top and bottom (minus the small center area covered by mounting 

washers). Data will be reported as no./450 cm2

. These tiles have been demonstrated 

experimentally to be well-suited for this type of study (Baggett and Bright, 1985; Harriott and 

Banks, 1995; Maida et al., 1995a,b; Gleason, 1996). McGuire (1995) has demonstrated that 

survival and growth of coral spat was higher on ceramic tiles than on other artificial substrata 

tested, such as glass, PVC, concrete, and coral/limestone blocks.
13

Tiles were center-drilled, mounted on stainless steel all-thread rods, and secured with plastic 

and steel lock-washers and nuts (Sammarco and Andrews, 1988, 1989; Sammarco, 1991). The 

all-thread was mounted on galvanized steel racks (Figure 3). The rugose sides of the tiles were 

oriented downward when mounted on the platform to provide planulae with their preferred 

surface irregularity and positioned at an angle of 37°

-45° from the horizontal (Carleton and 

Sammarco, 1987; also see Bak and Engel, 1979; Oakley, 1988; Mundy, 2000). Racks were preassembled in the laboratory and deployed by SCUBA divers. We used the M/V Fling (Freeport, 

Texas) to access the study sites and as a base for offshore dive operations. Racks and tools were 

transported underwater to the platform using a buoyancy device and hung beneath the horizontal 

support struts. The racks were secured using several 2 m long heavy-duty stainless steel hose 

clamps with the aid of hand wrenches and a pneumatic drill, adapted for underwater use. Upon 

retrieval, plates were put in Ziploc® freezer bags filled partially with SEM salt buffer to preserve 

the coral tissue of the spat for later molecular genetics analysis. The bags were then stored in 

small ice chests and kept frozen at -20°C on shipboard and in the laboratory for processing later. 

Plates–tops, bottoms, and all sides-were processed visually in the laboratory using a 

dissecting microscope. Spat were identified via their skeletons, with the assistance of specimens 

archived from earlier coral recruitment studies in Jamaica, West Indies; light and scanning 

electron micrographs from the same and other collections were also used (Sammarco, 1977, 

1980, 1982, unpub. micrographic collection; Budd et al., 2006). All taxa reported to recruit onto 

the FGB by Baggett and Bright (1985) are also known to recruit in Jamaica. Information was 

gathered on the distribution and abundance of coral spat species on the experimental settlement 

plates and how they relate to the distribution of platform and FGB adult coral populations. 
14

Table 2.

List of Northern GOM Oil and Gas Platforms on which Coral Settlement Racks Were Deployed, 2001-

2003 

Year 1 Year 2

Months Months

Platform of of

Code Deployment Retrieval Exposure Deployment Retrieval Exposure

HI-A 330A* 5/01 5/02 12

HI-A-349B* 5/01 5/02 12

HI-A-382* 5/01 5/02 12

HI-A-376A* 10/01 5/02 7

HI-A-382F 5/01 5/02 12 5/02 5/03 12

HI-A-368-B* 5/01 5/02 12 5/02 5/03 12

HI-A-376-A 5/01 5/02 12 5/02 5/03 12

HI-A-568A 5/02 5/03 12

HI-A-571A* 5/02 5/03 12

EC-317A/B 10/01 6/03 18

WC-643A 10/01 6/03 18

HI-A-370A 5/01 6/03 25

WC-618A 10/01 **

* = Platforms from which plates were processed for this study.

** = Racks lost, most likely from storms
15

Figure 3. Coral spat settlement rack. Galvanized steel angle iron 

supporting stainless steel all-thread pins. Terracotta tiles (15 

x 15 cm) were used for settlement plates. Plates and pins 

attached with stainless steel flat washers, lock-washers, and 

nuts. Settlement surfaces of plates insulated from steel via 

Teflon washers. Racks were hung from horizontal struts 

hanging downward (opposite orientation of that shown).
16

2.2.2 Statistical Analyses

Standard univariate parametric and non-parametric statistical analyses were performed on the 

data (Sokal and Rohlf, 1981) using BIOMStat V3.2 and V3.3. These included multi-way and/or 

nested ANOVAs, a posteriori SS-STP tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, least-square linear regressions, 

etc. Data were compared between platforms, racks, and plates. They were also compared 

between the platforms and the E-FGB, where recruitment data had been collected in a parallel 

study. Data were transformed by square-root (Y+0.5) where necessary for normalization 

purposes. 

2.2.3 Technical Considerations and Alteration of Original Plan

Several factors caused us to alter our plans. First, poor or severe weather conditions 

frequently caused the cancellation or premature abortion of cruises, in the interests of safety of 

the scientific and ship’s crew. Second, we encountered technical and safety issues with the 

deployment and retrieval of racks and sometimes threats to divers (sharks) during these 

activities. These factors resulted in the alteration of dates of deployment and retrieval, and a 

reduction in the numbers of racks deployed per platform, particularly at the deeper stations. 

Third, because of the paucity of spat on the settlement plates, and the inordinate amount of time 

required to process the plates with a dissecting scope, it was decided to stop plate-processing 

after the sixth platform. For these reasons, racks were treated as nested within platforms; depth 

effects will not be considered here. Plates from the following platforms were analyzed: HI-A330, HI-A-349B, HI-A-368B, HI-A-376A, HI-A-571, and HI-A-382 (Table 2). 

2.3 DETERMINING GENETIC CONNECTIVITY IN CORALS ON THE FLOWER 

GARDEN BANKS AND SURROUNDING OIL AND GAS PLATFORMS, GULF OF 

MEXICO 

2.3.1 Study Site

Thirteen oil and gas platforms off the Louisiana and Texas coasts were surveyed for 

hermatypic scleractinian corals. The target species–Madracis decactis, Diploria strigosa, and 

Montastraea cavernosa-were found on seven of these, which will from herein be referred to as 

Platforms #1 thru #7 going west to east (Figure 2). All platforms considered here had been in 

place for 15-26 years, a platform age range known to be associated with the development of 

substantial adult coral populations (Sammarco et al., 2004). 

2.3.2 Sample Collection

Tissue was collected from all coral colonies present on the platforms, i.e., total populations 

between 5 and 37 m depth. At the E- and W-FGB, samples of the larger populations were 

collected haphazardly within a diameter of 100 m by teams of divers. The platforms fell within 

an elongated ellipse, inclusive of the FGB, extending from 10 to 15 km west of the W-FGB to 50 

km east of EFGB and 10-15 km north. The sampling regime was skewed to the east because of 

the known prevailing westerly currents in the region (Sturges, 1993; Oey, 1995; LugoFernandez, 1998; Lugo-Fernandez et al., 2001; Figure 4). Because of problems associated with 

transfer of samples over international borders, it was not possible to sample corals from other 

potential source populations including those in Mexico (Tampico, Bay of Campeche, Alacran 

Reef, etc.). 
17

Using small hammers and chisels, teams of SCUBA divers collected tissue samples, each 

two cm2 in size, from the growing edge of adult colonies of the three target species. Total 

population sizes on the platforms were small. For this reason, sample sizes (provided in tables)

represent all corals on each platform within the depth range sampled. That is, populations 

assessed within this depth-range were not sub-sampled. Once on shipboard, the samples were 

sealed in small plastic freezer bags containing SED buffer (saturated NaCl, 250 mM EDTA, pH 

7.5, 20% DMSO) to preserve the DNA. This allowed the samples to be stored at room 

temperature, eliminating the need for storage in liquid nitrogen. Bags were then put in ice chests 

containing additional SED buffer and returned to the laboratory. 

2.3.3 Technique Used to Determine Genetic Affinity - Amplified Fragment 

Length Polymorphism (AFLP)

The AFLP technique was used to conduct molecular genetic analyses. It is a DNAfingerprinting technique (Sunnucks, 2000) that detects polymorphisms based upon the selective 

PCR amplification of a subset of the massive population of restriction fragments generated using 

two different restriction enzymes (Vos et al., 1995; Mueller and Wolfenbarger, 1999). The 

AFLPs tend to be highly polymorphic but are not co-dominantly expressed. Bensch and 

Åkesson (2005) have noted that AFLPs are commonly used in studies of crop species and 

economically important species but have had only a modest impact in animal studies. This is 

surprising, since many studies are limited by the availability of polymorphic markers, something 

AFLPs can provide. The AFLPs have been used successfully to determine migration rates (He et 

al., 2004), species boundaries (Lopez et al., 1999; Fukami et al., 2004), and parental 

contributions to populations (VanToai et al., 1997). Though AFLPs are less than ideal for many 

population genetic applications (Sunnucks, 2000), they are well suited for population assignment 

or allocation studies (Blears et al., 1998; Mueller and Wolfenbarger, 1999; Sammarco et al., 

2001, 2012) where the number of polymorphic loci is more important than allelic diversity 

(Bernatchez and Duchesne, 2000). 

One weakness of AFLPs is that some variation detected may not be derived from the target 

organism (Sunnucks, 2000). In corals, the major concern is with symbiotic zooxanthellae. Here 

we use zooxanthella-specific PCR primers to confirm for each sample that zooxanthellar DNA 

contamination are at levels far below those necessary for AFLP (5-10 pg of zooxanthellar DNA 

in a background of coral DNA; Brazeau et al., 2005). In an earlier work, we assessed the

consequences of zooxanthellar DNA contamination on coral AFLPs (Brazeau et al., 2005). 

Using zooxanthellar DNA spiked into coral DNA preparations the lower limit of zooxanthellar 

DNA detected by PCR primers specific for zooxanthellae was five to six orders of magnitude 

(4.8 pg) less than the amount of coral DNA present in each sample (minimally 50-100 ng). 

Attempts to generate AFLP bands using pure zooxanthella DNA at amounts ranging from 0.48 to 

480 pg were unsuccessful. Thus, coral samples that show no detectable zooxanthellae PCR 

product will have too little zooxanthella DNA to contribute any substantial numbers of AFLP 

bands.
18

Figure 4. Map of the GOM, depicting examples of general currents known to exist. Note the general 

westerly current across the continental shelf in the vicinity of the FGB and the northerly jet 

extending from Alacran to the FGB, indicating potential larval dispersal.

2.3.4 Preparation of Coral Tissue Lysates for Genetic Analysis

DNA was isolated by macerating samples lightly in SED buffer and spinning at 16 x g for 5 

min in a centrifuge to pellet the zooxanthellae from the homogenate. The DNA was then 

purified using the Wizard® SV Genomic DNA Purification System (Promega Corporation, 

Madison, WI), following manufacturer’s instructions for animal tissue. All samples were 

checked for zooxanthellae DNA contamination using the PCR techniques described in Brazeau 

et al., (2005).

The AFLPs, like other similar molecular genetic techniques, generate a subset of markers 

from a large population of markers. Of the subset obtained from a given AFLP experiment, a 

portion is often sensitive to specific reaction conditions. Thus, extra caution is required in 

processing samples through all procedural steps to maximize repeatability of results. Here, we 

processed samples in large lots containing members from all populations to uniformly distribute 

any error potentially introduced by reaction conditions between populations in an unbiased 

fashion. Also, all PCR reactions were done using one machine and the same thermal cycle 

profiles. 
19

2.3.4.1 Genomic Coral DNA digestion and adapter ligation

A restriction-ligation “master mix” was prepared using the following reagents (measures are 

per sample): 1.1 μl T4 DNA ligase 10X buffer (30 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.8 / 10 mM MgCl2 / 

10mM dithiothreitol (DTT ) / 1mM ATP), 1.1 μl of 0.5 M NaCl, 0.5 μl bovine serum albumin 

(BSA; 1 mg/ml), 1.0 μl Mse I adapters (50 μM), 1.0 μl EcoRI adapter (5 μM), 0.25 μl Mse I 

(4U/μl; New England BioLabs, Beverly, MA), 0.25 μl of EcoRI (20U/μL; New England 

BioLabs), and 0.33 μl of T4 ligase (3 U/μl; 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.0 / 50mM KCl / 1mM DTT / 

0.1 mM EDTA / 50% glycerol). Sequences for the Mse I and EcoRI adapters and PCR primers 

are listed in Table 3. To each new 1.7 ml tube, 5.5 μl of the restriction-ligation mixture plus 5.5 

μl (500 ng genomic DNA) of the purified genomic was added, centrifuged for 15 s, and 

incubated at room temperature overnight. At the end of the restriction-ligation reaction, 189 μl 

of TE buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0 / 0.1 mM EDTA) was added (10-fold dilution), serving as 

the template for the next-step, pre-selective amplification. 

2.3.4.2 Pre-selective Amplification of Coral DNA

A second master mix was made for pre-selection (PS) amplification, using the following 

reagents (per sample measure given): 8.1 μl of nuclease-free water, 2.0 μl of 10X PCR buffer 

(15 mM Mg++ in buffer), 0.8 μl of 5 mM dNTP’s, 2.0 μl of EcoRI PS primer (2.75 μM), 2.0 μl of 

MseI PS primer (2.75 μM), and 0.1 μl of Thermostable (Taq) DNA polymerase (5U/μl), for a 

total volume of 15.0 μl. To each 0.5 ml tube, 15 μl of the pre-selective amplification master mix 

was added, and 5 μl of each of the diluted restriction ligation reactions samples was vortexed and 

centrifuged for 15 s. Amplification was performed using a 2-min initial incubation at 72oC, 

followed by 20 cycles of 20 ss denaturation at 94oC, 30 s annealing at 56oC, and 2 min extension 

at 72oC. The last steps were 2 min final extension at 72oC, and 30 min final incubation at 60oC. 

After the cycling was completed, 180 μl of TE buffer was added to each tube, which consisted of 

the templates for the final step, selective amplification. 

2.3.4.3 Selective Amplification of Coral DNA

In the final step, a selective amplification master mix was made, containing the following 

components: 8.1 μl of nuclease-free water, 2.0 μl of 10X PCR buffer (with Mg++ at 15mM), 0.8 

μl of 5mM dNTP’s, 2.0 μl of EcoRI selective primer (0.46 μM), 2.0 μl of MseI selective primer 

(2.75 μM), and 0.1 μl of Taq DNA polymerase (5U/μl) for a total volume of 15.0 μl. To each 0.5 

ml micro-centrifuge tube, 5 μl of the diluted pre-selection PCR reaction was added to each 

corresponding tube, mixed, and centrifuged for 15 s. Samples were placed in the thermocycler, 

and the cycle profile was performed as indicated: 2 min initial denaturation at 94oC, followed by 

1 cycle of 20 s denaturation at 94oC, 30 s annealing at 66oC, and 2 min extension at 72oC. Next, 

there were nine cycles: 20 s at 94oC, initial 30 s at 66oC (reduced 1oC/cycle), and 2 min at 72oC. 

Final cycle consisted of 20 cycles: 20 s at 94oC, 30 s at 56oC, and 2 min at 72oC, followed by a 

30 min final incubation at 60oC. 

The products of the selective PCR were separated on a 5% polyacrylamide (sequencing) gel. 

Banding patterns were analyzed using Kodak Digital Image Analysis software (Eastman Kodak 

Co. Scientific Imaging Systems; Bonin et al., 2004). Bands were assigned to bins based on 20 

banding pattern size intervals. The Selective PCR reactions were repeated three times for each 

sample. These repeat reactions were run on different days, with populations mixed in each run. 
20

Bands were considered present if they appeared in two of the three runs; conversely, bands were 

scored as absent if two out of the three reactions yielded no band. Of the bands included in the 

study, >90% yielded the same result in all three PCR runs. These inclusion criteria helped to 

exclude bands that were overly sensitive to reaction conditions. 

Table 3.

Sequences of the Adapters and Primers Used in the AFLP Protocol. Pre-Selective and Selective 

Nucleotides are Indicated in Bold.

2.3.5 Statistical Analyses

With respect to the molecular genetics section of the study, two statistical analyses were used 

to assess population differentiation: Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA; Excoffier et al., 

1992), and AFLPOP population allocation analysis (v. 1.0; Duchesne and Bernatchez 2002). 

AMOVA estimated population differentiation based upon presence-absence data and generated 

ΦST values for all possible pair-wise comparisons between populations by species. A bootstrap 

of 1000 iterations was performed to estimate p values for each species for population statistics. 

Significance levels (p-values) were corrected using a Bonferroni correction for multiple tests 

(Bonferroni, 1936). No clones were encountered during the study; thus, adjustments for 

clonality were unnecessary. 

AFLPOP uses AFLP presence-absence data to calculate log-likelihood values for any 

individual’s membership in a reference population, based upon their banding patterns. Each 

individual is allocated to the population showing the highest likelihood for that genotype 

(Duchesne and Bernatchez, 2002; He et al., 2004). Population assignment tests for individuals 

based on genetic differentiation among populations have provided the most promising statistical 

Name Sequence

Adapters EcoRI EcoF 5’-CTCGTAGACTGCGTACC

EcoR 5’-AATTGGTACGCAGTCTAC

Adapters MseI MseF 5’-GACGATGAGTCCTGAG

MseR 5’-TACTCAGGACTCAT

Pre-selective primer EcoRI A 5’-GACTGCGTACC AATTC A

Pre-selective primer MseI C 5’-GATGAGTCCTGAG TAA C

Selective primers EcoRI 5’-GACTGCGTACCAATTC ACT

(Set 1) MseI 5’-GATGAGTCCTGAGTAA CAG

Selective primers EcoRI 5’-GACTGCGTACCAATTC ACC

(Set 2) MseI 5’-GATGAGTCCTGAGTAA CTT
21

methods used to estimate contemporary long-distance dispersal (He et al., 2004). When the 

individual is assigned to a population different from the site from which it was collected, it is 

interpreted as evidence of dispersal. One major advantage of using assignment methods is that 

populations do not have to be sampled exhaustively (He et al., 2004). In an AFLPOP simulation, 

an individual was chosen randomly from the entire population, population marker frequencies 

were then calculated without that individual, and then the individual is assigned to the new data 

set. For each simulation run, this was repeated 500 times. Average assignments to a given site 

were subsequently calculated as a percent value based on 10 repeats of these 500 iterations. 

The AFLPOP program allows the user to set a log-likelihood threshold for each assignment. 

A log-likelihood threshold set to 0.0 will result in the assignment of a colony to the population 

with the highest likelihood value. Atchison (2005) found that this may yield potentially 

misleading results, because there may be more than one population with nearly equal likelihood 

values. Here, we performed simulations using 1.0 as the comparative log-likelihood threshold in 

the analysis. This approach is more conservative and removes potentially spurious groupings. 

With the threshold set to 1.0, assignment of a colony to a population was not made unless the 

probability of the given assignment was 10 times more likely than the next most probable 

assignment. If this threshold was not met, meaning the individual was not assigned to any 

population it was designated “Criteria for Allocation Not Met” (CANM). This does not 

necessarily imply that the sample could not be assigned to any population with high probability. 

It only means that there may have been at least two populations with nearly equivalent 

probabilities of assignment. It could also mean that the individual fits none of the populations 

well, in which case it could have been derived from an outside populationas discussed in a 

preliminary report (Atchison et al., 2006 ). In this study, we focus primarily on those cases 

where clear assignments have been made including self-allocations to sites of origin and crosspopulation allocations. 

The genetic variables derived above were further analyzed via additional parametric and nonparametric statistical techniques, as mentioned above. The software used for such was 

BIOMStat V. 3.2 and SigmaPlot V. 10.0. For normalization purposes, data were transformed 

before analysis. 

23

3.0 RESULTS

Data generated by this report are available upon request from the senior author. 

3.1 ADULT CORAL COMMUNITIES ON PLATFORMS SURROUNDING THE FLOWER 

GARDEN BANKS

The diver surveys revealed a total of 11 species of corals on the platform jackets, occurring 

between 0- and 33 m depth. Eight of these species were hermatypic scleractinians, two were 

ahermatypic scleractinian corals, and one was a hydrozoan (Table 4). The dominant hermatypic 

scleractinian corals were Madracis decactis and Diploria strigosa. 

3.1.1 The Effect of Distance from the Flower Garden Banks on Corals Located 

on Platforms. 

A number of correlation and regression analyses–both parametric and non-parametric−were 

performed on the adult coral data versus distance from the FGB. The independent variables 

regarding the adult coral populations were as follows: 1) total coral abundance per platform; 2) 

M. decactis abundance per platform; 3) D. strigosa abundance per platform; 4) coral species 

diversity per platform (H’, J’, and S; Pielou, 1969, 1975); and 5) abundance of Tubastraea 

coccinea per platform. Each of these variables was analyzed with respect to distance to nearest 

FGB reef perimeter. In all cases, there was no significant relationship between any of these 

variables and distance from the FGB. The only case in which there was a tendency towards a 

significant trend was in the abundance of T. coccinea, which appeared to decrease with distance 

from the FGB. This trend was not significant, however, as shown by both parametric (regression 

analysis) and non-parametric (Kendall’s Rank Correlation analysis) tests.
24

Table 4

List of Coral Species, with Authorities, Found on the Oil and Gas Platforms in this Study. Mode of 

Reproduction Also Shown, with Approximate Spawning or Larval Release Times and Bibliographic 

Sources from which those Data were Drawn.

Times*

Order Coral Spp Authority Mode (Months**) Source

Scleractinia - hermatypic Colpophyllia natans Houttuyn, 1772 spawner 8,9 1,3

Diploria strigosa Dana, 1846 spawner 8,9 1,3,4,5,8,9,11

Madracis decactis Lyman, 1859 brooder 3 to 12 2

Madracis formosa Wells, 1973 brooder

Montastraea cavernosa Linnaeus, 1767 spawner 7,8,9,10 1,3,6,7,8,9,10,11

Porites astreoides Lamarck, 1816 brooder 6-9,1-12 8,12,13,14,15

Stephanocoenia intersepta Lamarck, 1816 spawner 8,9 1

Stephanocoenia michelinii Edwards & Haime, 1848 spawner 7,8 7

Scleractinia - ahermatypic Phyllangia americana Edwards & Haime, 1849

Tubastraea coccinea Lesson, 1829 brooder 16,17

Hydrozoa Millepora alcicornis Linnaeus, 1758 (see 18)

* Caribbean-wide

** 1=Jan, 2=Feb, etc.

1 Hagman et al. 1998 6 Acosta & Zea 1997 11 Wyers et al. 1989

2 Vermeij et al. 2003 7 Gittings et al. 1994 12 Gleason et al. 1999

3 Steiner 1995 8 Soong 1993 13 McGuire 1998

4 Bassim & Sammarco 2003 9 Gittings et al 1992 14 McGuire 1995

5 Bassim et al. 2002 10 Szmant 1991

18 Soong & Cho 1998

15 Chornesky & Peters 1987

Table 4. Coral Species Observed on Oil and Gas Platforms,

 Northern Gulf of Mexico Reproduction

16 Ayre & Resing 1986

17 Hebbinghaus 2001

3.1.2 Abundance of Hermatypic Corals on Platforms. 

Abundance of shallow hermatypic corals (< 14 m depth) increased significantly with the age 

of the platforms, as indicated by linear regression analysis and non-parametric correlation 

analysis (Figure 5a). This pattern of increasing abundance as a function of platform age was also 

significant for corals found in deeper water (> 14 m to 33 m), indicated by both linear regression 

and correlation analyses. The pattern was as strong or stronger when data from both depths were 

combined. One clear relationship was a marked increase in coral abundance after ~12-15 years; 

prior to this, coral growth visible to the naked eye was nominal or absent. 

M. decactis, the most abundant coral found on the platforms, showed no significant 

relationship between abundance and platform age in shallow water (Figure 6). However, a clear 

positive relationship was found between these variables in deeper water, and for both sets of 

depths combined. 

D. strigosa was the second ranking dominant hermatypic coral found on the platforms. 

However, in this species, no significant relationship was found between abundance and platform 
25

age, in shallow water, at deeper depths, or with both sets of depths combined (p > 0.05, least 

squares linear regression analyses, Pearson’s product-moment correlation analyses, and 

Kendall’s rank correlation analyses). 

A significant relationship was found between coral abundance and platform age in 

T.coccinea in shallow water, but, unlike M. decactis, that correlation was negative (correlation, r 

= -0.544, p = 0.05; Figure 7). No similar significant relationship was found at deeper depths or 

for all depths combined (p > 0.05 for linear regression analyses, correlation analysis, and

Kendall’s rank correlation analysis). 
26

Figure 5. Relative abundances for all spat of different coral genera found on six oil and gas 

platforms in the northern GOM in the vicinity of the FGB. Data derived from coral 

settlement on terracotta plates mounted on steel racks and deployed at depths of 15 and 

27 m for one year during 2001-2003. Data combined for platforms, racks, depths, and 

plates. Proportion and 95% confidence limits shown. Data transformed arcsine for 

normalization purposes. 

Platform Age
27

(a)

(b)

(c) Age (yrs.)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

_ 0

_ 12

_ 2

_ 4

_ 6

_ 8

_ 10

_ 1

Total

Figure 6. (a) Graph depicting the relationship between total abundance of the coral M. decactis in 

shallow water (0-14 m,) on the platforms studied versus age of those platforms. See 

Figure 3 legend for details of abundance calculations. No significant relationship found 

(p > 0.05, least squares linear regression analysis; Pearson’s Product-Moment 

Correlation Coefficient, r = 0.335, p > 0.05; Kendall’s Rank Correlation Coefficient, T = 

0.2910, p > 0.05). (b) Graph depicting same, but in deeper water (< 14 m – 27 m,; max. 

33 m). Significant positive relationship found here (regression, Y = 0.069 X + 0.332, p = 

0.01; correlation, r = 0.711, p < 0.01). (c) Graph depicting same, but for shallow and 

deep water data combined.

Madracis decactis Densities vs. Platform Age

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Shallow

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

0

4

2

1

8

6

10

_ 12

 

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Madracis decactis Densities

 _______

(No. / 1000 m2; \/ Y + 0.5 ) 

Deep

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

0

1

4

2

8

6

10

_ 12
28

.

Tubastraea coccinea Densities vs. Platform Age

Age (yrs.)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Tubastraea coccinea Densities

 _______

(No. / 1000 m

2; \/ Y + 0.5 ) 

Shallow

_ 0

_ 5

_

_

10

25

_ 50

_ 100

Figure. 7. Graph depicting the relationship between total abundance of the coral T. coccinea in 

shallow water (0-14 m) on the platforms studied versus age of those platforms. See 

Figure 3 legend for details of abundance calculations. Significant relationship found 

(Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient, r = -0.544, p = 0.05). No 

significant relationship found between T. coccinea abundance and platform age in 

deep water or in both depths combined (p > 0.05, regression, correlation, and 

Kendall’s rank correlation). 

3.1.3 Species Diversity of Corals on Platforms. 

A highly significant relationship was found between coral species diversity, as measured 

simply by number of species (S), and platform age. The relationship was strong in shallow water 

(Figure 8a), even more pronounced in deep water (Figure 8b), and was highly significant when 

data from both sets of depths were combined (Figure 8c). 

A similar significant pattern was found for all corals when species diversity (H’ = - Σ pi log 

pi; Figure 9a) and equitability (J’ = H’/log S); Figure 9b) were used as species diversity 

measures. 
29

3.1.4 Depth Distribution of Corals on Platforms. 

None of the corals considered here were distributed uniformly with respect to depth. This 

occurred regardless of the distribution of available substrate, even after standardization for 

available area, which varied greatly with depth because of the presence of horizontal support 

structures. Total coral abundance exhibited a bimodal distribution, with peaks at depths of ~20 

m and 28 m, and with little representation at 0-6 m (Figure 10a). The abundance of M. decactis

peaked at the same depths (Figure 10b). Unlike M. decactis, D. strigosa exhibited peaks in 

abundance at ~10 m and 23 m (Figure 11). T. coccinea, unlike these other species, exhibited 

high abundances at 12 to 21 m depth (Figure 12). Average coral abundance was compared 

between depth categories above and below 27 m. Average abundances were standardized by 

number of depth categories above and below that level (i.e., 9 depth intervals versus 2 depth 

intervals). Total coral and M. decactis abundances showed no significant difference above 

versus below 27 m depth (Figure 10). No D. strigosa were found below 27 m depth on any of 

the platforms surveyed. T. coccinea occurred in much greater numbers at depths of < 27 m than 

below this; this difference was highly significant (see figure legends for statistical details).
30

(a)

Hermatypic Corals

Species Diversity vs. Platform Age

_ 0

_

_

_

_

_

1

2

4

6

8

* p < 0.05 

Shallow

(b)

No. of Coral Species

_______

(\/ Y + 0.5 ) 

_

_

_

_

_

_

Deep

0

1

2

4

6

8

** p < 0.01 

(c)

Platform Age (yrs.)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

_

_

_

_

_

_

Total

0

1

2

4

6

8

** p < 0.01 

Figure 8. (a) Graph depicting the relationship between coral species diversity as measured by 

number of species (S) in shallow water (0-14 m,) on the platforms studied versus age of 

those platforms. Significant positive relationship found (p < 0.01, least squares linear 

regression analysis, Y = 047 X – 0.519; correlation, r = 0.590, p < 0.05). (b) Graph 

depicting same, but in deeper water (< 14 – 27 m; max. 36 m). Significant positive 

relationship also found here (regression, p < 0.01, Y = 0.062 X – 0.508, p < 0.01; 

correlation, r = 0.822, p < 0.001). (c) Graph depicting same, but for shallow and deep 

water combined. Significant positive relationship found here as well (regression, Y = 

0.064 X – 0.569, p < 0.01; correlation, r = 0.795, p < 0.01). 
31

(a)

Species Diversity of Corals

H'

Species Diversity

H'

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

* p < 0.05 

(b)

Species Equitability of Corals 

J'

Platform Age (yrs.)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Species Equitability

J'

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

* p < 0.05

Figure 9. (a) Graph depicting the relationship between coral species 

diversity as measured by H’ on the platforms studied versus

age of those platforms. Significant positive relationship 

found (least squares linear regression analysis, Y = 0.021 X 

– 0.109, p < 0.05; correlation, r = 0.707, p < 0.01). (b) 

Graph depicting the relationship between coral species 

equitability as measured by J’ on the platforms studied 

versus age of those platforms. Significant positive 

relationship found (regression, Y = 0.028 X – 0.068, p <

0.05; correlation, r = 0.655, p < 0.05).
32

Madracis decactis vs. Depth (m)

Madracis decactis Abundance, 

Standardized by Area

0 50 100 150 200 250

Depth (m)

1.5

4.5

7.5

10.5

13.5

16.5

19.5

22.5

25.5

28.5

31.5

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

0 _

Figure 10. (a) Depth distribution of all corals on the study platforms ranging from 0 to 33m. This 

distribution was significantly different from uniform distribution (p < 0.01, KolmogorovSmirnov Frequency Test). There was no significant difference in average total coral 

abundance above versus below 27 m depth (p > 0.05, Komolgorov-Smirnov Frequency 

Analysis). (b) Depth distribution of the coral M. decactis. This distribution was 

significantly different from uniform distribution (p < 0.01, Kolmogorov-Smirnov 

Frequency Test). There was no significant difference in average M. decactis

abundance above versus below 27 m depth (p > 0.05, Komolgorov-Smirnov Frequency 

Analysis). 

Total Hermatypic Coral Abundance vs. Depth (m)

Total Hermatypic Coral Abundance,

Standardized by Area

0 50 100 150 200

Depth (m)

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

1.5

4.5

7.5

10.5

13.5

16.5

19.5

22.5

25.5

28.5

31.5

0

_

_
33

Diploria strigosa vs. Depth (m)

Diploria strigosa Abundance,

Standardized by Area

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Depth (m)

0

1.5

4.5

7.5

10.5

13.5

16.5

19.5

22.5

25.5

28.5

31.5

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

Figure 11. Depth distribution of the coral D. strigosa on the study platforms, 

ranging from 0 to 33 m. This distribution was significantly different from 

uniform distribution (p < 0.01, Kolmogorov-Smirnov Frequency Test).
34

Tubastrea coccinea vs. Depth (m)

Tubastrea coccinea Abundance,

Standardized by Area

0 100 200 300 400

Depth (m)

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

1.5

4.5

7.5

10.5

13.5

16.5

19.5

22.5

25.5

28.5

31.5

_ 0

_

Figure 12. Depth distribution of the ahermatypic coral T. coccinea on the 

study platforms, ranging from 0 to 33 m. Significantly different 

from a uniform distribution (p < 0.01, Kolmogorov-Smirnov 

frequency test). Significant difference in average abudnace 

above versus below 27 m depth, with much higher numbers in 

shallow water (p < 0.001, Komolgorov-Smirnov frequency 

analysis). 
35

3.1.5 Pattern-Seeking Analysis of Adult Coral Communities on Platforms. 

A multivariate analysis of all of the coral community data performed simultaneously on all 

platforms revealed a relatively simple pattern of grouping among platforms. The platforms 

ranged from 2 to 26 years in age. The pattern-seeking analysis identified a major split in the 

similarity index between the communities at fusion values below 0.79 (Figure 13). It placed the 

platforms into two age groups: one large group of platforms that possessed coral communities 

between 14 and 26 years old, namely HI-A-382, HI-A-370, HI-A-330, HI-A-571, WC-630, HIA-568, WC-618, HI-A-376, WC-643, and HI-A-349; and a second group that was smaller in 

number and consisted of platforms of the lower age range (0-13 years), namely HI-A-385, HI-A368, and EC-317.

3.1.6 Coral Colony Size. 

For statistical comparison, a sufficient number of samples of colony size was available only 

for M. decactis (see Materials and Methods above). It was clear that large colonies of this

species occurred on platforms ranging from 14 to 26 years of age. There were significant 

differences between the mean colony size on different platforms, although no particular pattern 

emerged (Table 5). In addition, a variety of a posteriori tests revealed no significant differences 

between platforms. Colony size did not vary significantly with platform age within this platform 

age group or with distance from the FGB within the spatial scale used in this study. 

Figure 13. Results of pattern-seeking analysis (PATN), examining the relatedness of coral community 

structure found on the individual study platforms. Data used were coral abundance by 

species. Two major groups were identified–one characterized by older platforms and one 

by those generally < 12 years of age. See text for discussion of pattern.
36

3.2 RECRUITMENT OF CORALS ON PLATFORMS

The abundance of coral spat collected from the settlement plates placed on the platforms was 

very low and could be considered rare. Average spat densities on the platforms varied between 0 

and < 1 per 450 cm2 (both plate sides summed; Figure 14). Spat densities on the platforms were 

significantly (p < 0.05; for the a posteriori tests GT2, T’, and Tukey-Kramer) lower than 

recruitment levels observed to occur on the E-FGB in a parallel study (Sammarco and Brazeau, 

2001; Sammarco, 2002, 2003, 2005; Brazeau et al., 2005, 2008, in press). On the E-FGB, 

average total spat densities were ~6 per 450 cm2. Coral densities were not significantly different 

between platforms (p > 0.05; one-way nested ANOVA), but they were significantly different 

between racks (p < 0.001; Figure 15). 

Two of the dominant scleractinian species observed as adults on platforms in this study were 

T. coccinea and M. cavernosa. These were also the most common corals observed as spat on 

settling plates placed on the platforms. T. coccinea was the most abundant spat, and M. 

cavernosa was the second most abundant (Figure 16). Only one newly settled spat of M. sp. 

(most likely M. decactis, although because of the small size of the spat, this could not be 

confirmed) was found on the plates. With respect to reproductive modes (Fadlallah, 1983; 

Harrison and Wallace, 1990; Richmond and Hunter, 1990; Moulding, 2009 for reviews), 

Tubastraea and Madracis are brooders; all Montastraea species are broadcasters. 

With respect to T. coccinea, there was no significant difference in density of coral settlement 

between platforms (p > 0.05, nested ANOVA; Figure 17). The only larval recruitment observed 

in this species occurred on the platforms. This species did not recruit at all to the E-FGB, despite 

overall high levels of recruitment by other species there. There was also no significant 

difference between racks with respect to T. coccinea spat densities (p > 0.05; Figure 18). 

Montastraea cavernosa also recruited to the platforms. Settlement in this species, however, 

was homogeneous between all platforms and all racks (p > 0.05, nested ANOVA; Figures 19 and 

20). In fact 100% of the variance was found to be associated with difference between plates. 

Coral recruitment levels were not sufficiently high on the platforms to permit meaningful 

molecular population genetic analyses to be performed and examine their genetic affinities 

between populations at different sites.
37

Table 5

Colony Size in M. decactis on Several Oil and Gas Platforms in the Northern GOM Near the FGB

Table 5. Colony Size of Madracis decactis 

Platform

WC-643A HI-A-376A HI-A-330 HI-A-571A HI-A-349B HI-A-568A

 _ 

Y colony size (cm2

) 873.6 1,813.80 2,396.10 3,146.80 3,369.20 3,770.10

_

Yt 2.72 3.19 3.13 3.4 3.16 3.45

lower 95% conf. limit 2.18 2.07 2.61 3.21 2.52 3.16

upper 95% conf. limit 3.25 4.31 3.66 3.59 3.8 3.74

st 0.531 0.314 0.466 0.314 0.804 0.428

n 8 3 7 17 11 14

Platform Age (yrs) 26 20 26 23 24 22

Distance from FGB (km) 48.7 2 14.1 15 8 24.5
38

East Flower Garden Bank vs. Platforms

Total Coral Spat - Combined Depths

Platforms

Spat Density - no. / 450 cm

(\/ Y+ 0.5)

EFGB 1 2 3 4 5 6

_ 0

_

_

_

_

_ 1

2

5

10

15

W E

*

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

2

Figure 14. Average density of coral spat in no. per 450 cm2 on six oil and gas platforms in the 

northern GOM in the vicinity of the NOAA FGB National Marine Sanctuary, by 

platform. The platforms, listed east to west, are HI-A-330, HI-A-349B, HI-A-368B, HIA-376A, HI-A-571A and HI-A-382, and are labeled 1-6, respectively. Data derived 

from coral settlement on terracotta plates mounted on steel racks and deployed at 

depths of 15 and 27 m for one year during 2001-2002 or 2002-2003*. Data combined 

for depths (see text for explanation). Comparative data is also shown from a similar 

experiment performed on the E-FGB (Sammarco and Brazeau, 2001; Sammarco, 

2002, 2003, and 2005; Brazeau et al., 2005, 2008; Brazeau and Sammarco, in prep.). 

Mean and 95% confidence limits shown. Data transformed by square-root (Y + 0.5) for 

normalization purposes. No significant difference between coral densities on platforms 

(p > 0.05, one-way nested ANOVA). The * indicates a significant difference between 

platforms and the E-FGB (p < 0.05; for the a posteriori tests GT2, T’, and TukeyKramer). 
39

Individual Platforms

Total Spat

Rack:

Spat Densities - no. / 450 cm

(/\ Y+0.5)

Platform:

1 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 1 2

1 2 3 4 5 6

W E

_

_

_

_

0

1

2

3

2

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Figure 15. Average density of coral spat in no. per 450 cm2 on six oil and gas platforms in the northern 

GOM in the vicinity of the FGB. Platforms presented in longitudinal sequence from west to 

east as they occur in the GOM: (1) HI-A-330, (2) HI-A-349B, (3) HI-A-368B, (4) HI-A-376A, 

(5) HI-A-571A, and (6) HI-A-382. Data derived from coral settlement on terracotta plates 

mounted on steel racks and deployed at depths of 15 and 27 m for one year during 2001-

2002 or 2002-2003. Data shown for individual settlement racks within platforms. Data 

combined for depths (see text for explanation). Mean and 95% confidence limits shown. 

Raw data transformed by square-root (Y + 0.5) for normalization purposes. Significant 

difference between coral densities on racks (p < 0.05, one-way nested ANOVA).
40

Relative Abundance of Coral Spat

Settling on Oil/Gas Platforms

Relative Abundance (%)

(Arcsine Transform)

Tubastraea

coccinea

Montastraea

sp.

Madracis

sp.

100%

70

90

50

30

10

0

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

Taxon

Figure 16. Relative abundances for all spat of different coral genera found on six oil and gas platforms 

in the northern GOM in the vicinity of the FGB. Data derived from coral settlement on 

terracotta plates mounted on steel racks and deployed at depths of 15 and 27 m for one 

year during 2001-2003. Data combined for platforms, racks, depths, and plates. Proportion 

and 95% confidence limits shown. Data transformed arcsine for normalization purposes. 
41

3.3 GENETIC CONNECTIVITY IN CORALS ON THE FLOWER GARDEN BANKS AND 

SURROUNDING OIL AND GAS PLATFORMS, GULF OF MEXICO 

A total of 291 tissue samples from three scleractinian species was examined. Two AFLP 

primer sets were used in the analysis. For M. decactis, 167 colonies produced 57 polymorphic 

markers. In D. strigosa, 64 colonies produced a total of 31 polymorphic markers and in M.

cavernosa, tissue from 60 colonies yielded a total of 40 polymorphic markers. In some cases, 

only a small number of colonies per species was found on individual platforms. We have 

included all of the populations in the analytical results, however, because low sample sizes on 

some of the platforms are directly representative of low population sizes at these sites, not 

decreased sampling effort; we sampled the entire population at the depths concerned. 

Nonetheless, we have noted instances where small population sizes may constrain interpretation 

of the results. 

3.3.1 Madracis decactis (brooder)

M. decactis was found on all seven study platforms plus the E- and W-FGB. Because this 

species was the most abundant encountered, it provided the most information regarding genetic 

affinities. Genetic differentiation values (ΦST) generated by the AMOVA analyses for M.

decactis revealed that the two FGB populations were homogeneous, yielding the lowest ΦST

values among all populations in this comparison (Table 6a). Several populations on the 

platforms exhibited consistent significant genetic differentiation, despite the small population 

sizes involved. These were the western-most Platform #1 and a far eastern platform, Platform

#6. In fact, these platforms plus Platform #7, which are the most distant from the FGB, exhibited 

the highest levels of significance and most consistent genetic differentiation from the other sites. 

Among the populations with larger sample sizes, the highest ΦST values were observed between 

two of the most geographically separated populations – Platform #2 and Platform #7. 

In M. decactis, ΦST increased with inter-site distance, being described by a significant 2°

polynomial regression (Figure 21). Most populations being considered in a pair-wise manner 

were significantly different from each other by AMOVA; but it was also clear that all those 

populations that were not significantly different had ΦST values of < 0.02 and were clustered at 

distances of < 55 km from each other (Figure 21; Table 6a). 

We also examined genetic differentiation patterns using the FGB as a reference point for M.

decactis. The ΦST was significantly positively associated with distance to the W-FGB (Figure 

22) and even more clearly with distance from the E-FGB as a reference point, as well as with 

distance to the nearest FGB perimeter. When comparing not significantly different populations, 

all populations with homogenous ΦST values occurred generally at < 30 km from either FGB 

perimeter, but up to 55 km in the case of the W-FGB (Figure 22). 

Using the requirement of a minimum log-1 (10-fold difference) threshold for population 

allocation, most of the AFLPOP assignments in M. decactis were allocated back to their 

population of origin (self-assignment; Table 6b). Populations from most platforms and the FGBs 

showed cross-assignments to many other populations, but the proportions of cross-assignments 

involving platforms were generally two orders of magnitude smaller than the self-assignments. 

The western-most Platform #1 and one of the eastern-most platforms Platform #6, yielded high 
42

levels of self-assignment (94% and 97%, respectively); population sizes here were small (Table 

6b). These results were consistent with the above AMOVA results. 

The AFLPOP analytical results supported the concept that the genetic uniqueness of the M.

decactis populations became increasingly distinct with increased remoteness from the FGBs 

(Figure 23; Table 6b). These results paralleled those yielded by AMOVA and patterns derived in 

ΦST. Levels of self-allocation of colonies at a given site increased significantly with distance 

from the E-FGB (Figure 23a), and the strength of this relationship was stronger when 

considering distance to the nearest FGB perimeter (Figure 23b). No relationship emerged 

between self-allocation of colonies to sites and distance from the W-FGB when used as a 

reference point. 

The lowest percentages of self-allocation (26% and 32%) occurred in the E- and W-FGB M.

decactis populations (respectively). In the center of the study region, cross-assignments were 

least common between the FGB and some of those platforms at the furthest sites (Table 6b). 

Allocation from the E- to the W-FGB was higher than to any platform. In most cases, most 

colonies from the FGB were identified as “CANM” (Criteria for Allocation Not Met). There 

was no correlation between platform age and level of self-allocation in M. decactis (correlation, r

= -0.654, p > 0.05). 

The AFLPOP analyses also yielded information on cross-allocation between M. decactis

populations at all sites. When all possible pair-wise comparisons were made between sites, 

including self- and cross-allocations, a clear pattern of high self-allocation emerged but with a 

very low level of cross-site allocation, particularly on the platforms around the FGB, irrespective 

of distance from them (Figure 24a; Figure 25). As distance between sites increased, the level of 

cross-allocation to a site dropped significantly and highly dramatically and this was observed 

even at distances as low as 1 km. The pattern of this decrease followed a sharp hyperbolic decay 

curve and was mimicked in the other two species examined (Figures 24 b,c; see below). When 

the self-allocation data were excluded from the analysis, the degree of cross-allocation between 

populations decreased significantly in a linear fashion with distance between sites (Figure 25), 

again indicating an increasing amount of genetic isolation between populations with distance. 
43

Individual Platforms

Tubastraea coccinea spat

Platforms

Spat Density - no. / 450 cm

(\/Y+0.5)

1 2 3 4 5 6

0

1

2

3

W E

_

_

_

_

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2

Figure 17. Average density of T. coccinea spat in no. per 450 cm2 on six oil and gas platforms 

in the northern GOM in the vicinity of the NOAA FGB National Marine Sanctuary, 

by platform. Platforms presented in longitudinal sequence from west to east as they 

occur in the GOM: (1) HI-A-330, (2) HI-A-349B, (3) HI-A-368B*, (4) HI-A-376A, (5) 

HI-A-571A*, and (6) HI-A-382. Data derived from coral settlement on terracotta 

plates mounted on steel racks and deployed at depths of 15 and 27 m for one year 

during 2001-2002 or 2002-2003*. Data combined for depths (see text for 

explanation). Mean and 95% confidence limits shown. Raw data transformed by 

square-root (Y + 0.5) before calculation of means for normalization purposes. No 

significant difference in spat densities of T. coccinea between platforms (p > 0.05, 

one-way nested ANOVA). 
44

Individual Platforms

Tubastraea coccinea spat

Rack:

Spat Density - no. / 450 cm

(\/ Y+0.5 )

Platform:

1 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 1 2

1 2 3 4 5 6

_

_

_

_

0

1

2

3

W E

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2

Figure 18. Average density of T. coccinea spat in no. per 450 cm2 on six oil and gas platforms 

in the northern GOM in the vicinity of the NOAA FGB National Marine Sanctuary. 

Platforms presented in longitudinal sequence from west to east as they occur in the 

GOM: 1) HI-A-330, (2) HI-A-349B, (3) HI-A-368B*, (4) HI-A-376A, (5) HI-A-571A*, 

and (6) HI-A-382. Data shown for individual settlement racks within platforms. Data 

derived from coral settlement on terracotta plates mounted on steel racks and 

deployed at depths of 15 and 27 m for one year during 2001-2002 or 2002-2003*. 

Data combined for depths. Mean and 95% confidence limits shown. Data 

transformed by square-root (Y + 0.5) for normalization purposes. No significant 

difference between coral densities on racks (p > 0.05, one-way nested ANOVA). See 

legend of Figure 12 for additional details. 
45

Eastern Flower Garden Bank vs. Platforms

Montastraea Spat

Platforms

Average Spat Density - no. / 450 cm

(\/Y+0.5)

_

_

_

_

_

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

EFGB 1 2 3 4 5 6

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2

Figure 19. Average density of Montastraea sp. spat in no. per 450 cm2 on six oil and gas 

platforms in the northern GOM, in the vicinity of the NOAA FGB National Marine 

Sanctuary. The platforms, listed east to west, are HI-A-330, HI-A-349B, HI-A368B*, HI-A-376A, HI-A-571A*, and HI-A-382. Data shown for platforms. Data 

derived from coral settlement on terracotta plates mounted on steel racks and 

deployed at depths of 15 and 27 m for one year during 2001-2002 or 2002-

2003*. Data combined for depths. Mean and 95% confidence limits shown. Data 

transformed by square-root (Y + 0.5) for normalization purposes. No significant 

difference between coral densities on racks (p > 0.05, one-way nested ANOVA). 

See legend of Figure 12 for additional details. 
46

Eastern Flower Garden Bank vs. Platforms

Montastraea Spat

Rack:

Spat Density - no. / 450 cm

(/\ Y+0.5)

Block:

Platform:

1 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 2 3

A B C

EFGB 1 2 3 4 5 6

*

_

_

_

_

0

1

2

3

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2

Figure 20. Average density of Montastraea sp. spat in no. per 450 cm2 on six oil and gas platforms 

in the northern GOM, in the vicinity of the NOAA FGB National Marine Sanctuary. 

Platforms presented in longitudinal sequence from west to east as they occur in the 

GOM: (1) HI-A-330, (2) HI-A-349B, (3) HI-A-368B*, (4) HI-A-376A, (5) HI-A-571A*, and 

(6) HI-A-382. Data is shown for individual settlement racks within platforms. Data derived 

from coral settlement on terracotta plates mounted on steel racks and deployed at depths 

of 15 and 27 m for one year during 2001-2002 or 2002-2003*. Data combined for depths. 

Mean and 95% confidence limits shown. Data transformed by square-root (Y + 0.5) for 

normalization purposes. The * indicates a significant difference in coral density between 

Rack #3, Platform #6 and all other racks (p < 0.05, one-way nested ANOVA); no 

significant difference between coral densities on all other racks (p > 0.05).) 
47

Table 6

Assessment of Genetic Differentiation among Populations of the Coral M. decactis Using Analysis of 

Molecular Variance (AMOVA); AFLPOP Assignment of Samples to Their Reference Home Population 

Compared with Other Sites

Table 6. Madracis decactis

Platform/Site 1 2 W-FGB 3 E-FGB 4 5 6 7

n 8 15 25 20 18 19 28 7 27

Compared to

↓

1 P < 0.001 P < 0.001 P < 0.001 P < 0.001 P < 0.001 P < 0.001 P < 0.001 P < 0.001

2 0.1285 P < 0.05 P < 0.001 P < 0.05 0.3640 P < 0.001 P < 0.001 P < 0.001

W-FGB 0.0763 0.0421 P < 0.05 0.5560 P < 0.05 0.1440 P < 0.05 P < 0.05

3 0.0740 0.0730 0.0129 0.2440 P < 0.001 0.1070 P < 0.001 P < 0.05

E-FGB 0.0828 0.0250 -0.0057 0.0116 0.3030 0.4360 P < 0.001 P < 0.001

4 0.1133 0.0035 0.0189 0.0348 0.0059 0.1170 P < 0.001 P < 0.001

5 0.0674 0.0392 0.0176 0.0198 0.0012 0.0178 P < 0.001 P < 0.05

6 0.0650 0.1140 0.0771 0.0967 0.1060 0.0951 0.1097 P < 0.001

7 0.0987 0.1266 0.0476 0.0148 0.0485 0.0858 0.0300 0.1385

Overall ΦST = 0.0730

Allocated To

↓

1 94.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.1%

2 0.0% 62.4% 0.2% 0.1% 0.2% 1.2% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0%

W-FGB 0.0% 0.3% 32.2% 0.3% 0.3% 0.4% 0.6% 0.0% 0.3%

3 0.0% 0.1% 0.4% 38.5% 0.3% 0.4% 0.4% 0.0% 0.4%

E-FGB 0.0% 0.2% 0.8% 0.3% 26.2% 0.5% 0.5% 0.0% 0.1%

4 0.0% 0.5% 0.6% 0.4% 0.4% 37.8% 0.6% 0.0% 0.0%

5 0.0% 0.2% 0.3% 0.2% 0.4% 0.4% 30.9% 0.0% 0.2%

6 0.0% 0.0% 0.2% 0.1% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% 97.1% 0.0%

7 0.1% 0.0% 0.3% 1.2% 0.4% 0.2% 1.0% 0.0% 50.4%

CANM 5.6% 36.3% 65.0% 58.7% 71.8% 59.1% 65.7% 2.9% 48.5%

Totals 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

(a) AMOVA

Reference Population

(b) AFLPOP
48

Figure 21. The ΦST or genetic differentiation between populations of the coral M.

decactis found on all sites considered here–offshore oil and gas 

platforms and the E-FGB and W-FGB. Presented as a function of 

distance between the sites. Data analyzed by AMOVA. • = significantly 

different populations;  = not significantly different. p < 0.001, 2o

polynomial regression, Y = 3.409 + 0.332 X – 0.002 X2. Data 

transformed by arcsine for normalization purposes. 
49

Figure 22. The ΦST or genetic differentiation between populations of the coral M. decactis found on 

sites considered in this study, using the perimeter of the FGB as a geographic reference 

point. Presented as a function of distance between the site and the perimeter of (a) EFGB, (b) W-FGB, and (c) nearest FGB. Data transformed by arcsine for normalization 

purposes and analyzed by AMOVA. Number of multiple/over-plotted points shown in 

parentheses. • = significantly different populations;  = not significantly different. (a) p 

< 0.05, Kendall’s rank correlation analysis, = not significantly different. (a) p < 0.05,

Kendall’s rank correlation analysis, on sites considered in this study, using the 

perimeter of the FGB as a geographic reference point. Presented as a function of 

distance between the station analysis, r = 0.692. 
50

Figure 23. Self-allocation in M. decactis colonies; proportion assigned back to their original sites 

when analyzed by AFLPOP, using an assignment level with a log-likelihood threshold of 

1.0. Proportions plotted against distance between the site and perimeter of the (a) E-FGB

and (b) nearest FGB. Data transformed by arcsine for normalization purposes. Selfallocation increases significantly with distance from the E-FGB and nearest FGB 

perimeter. (a) p < 0.05, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, r = 0.683; p < 0.05, Sum 

of squared difference in ranks. (b) p < 0.05, Kendall’s Rank Correlation Analysis, T = 

0.535; p < 0.05, Spearman’s Rank Correlation Analysis, r = 0.686; p < 0.05, Sum of 

squared difference in ranks.
51

Figure 24. (a) Allocation of M. decactis colonies between populations at all study sites, as determined 

by AFLPOP. A log-linear threshold of 1.0 (highly conservative) used for analysis. 

Allocation of colonies to populations at other sites versus inter-site distance. All 

populations are included, included self-assignments to sites of origin. Significant 

hyperbolic decay; p < 0.001, 2-parameter hyperbolic regression analysis, Y = (43.417 * 

0.382) / (0.382 + X). (b) Same, but in D. strigosa. Significant hyperbolic decay; p < 0.001, 

3-parameter hyperbolic decay regression analysis, Y = 0.946 + (52.507 * 0.103)/ (0.103 + 

X). (c) Same, but in M. cavernosa. Significant hyperbolic decay; p < 0.01, 2-parameter 

hyperbolic decay regression analysis, Y = (47.383 * 2.740)/(2.740 + X). 
52

Figure 25. Allocation of M. decactis colonies between populations at study sites, as determined 

by AFLPOP. A log-linear threshold of 1.0 (highly conservative) used for analysis. 

Allocation of colonies to populations at other sites versus inter-site distance. Selfallocation data have been excluded. Significant negative correlation, p < 0.05, 

correlation analysis, r = 0.266; p < 0.05, Model-II linear regression analysis, Y = 

2.768 – 0.018 X. 
53

3.3.2 Diploria strigosa (broadcaster)

D. strigosa, a broadcaster, occurred on both the E- and W-FGB, and Platforms #3, #5, and 

#7. AMOVA analyses identified variable genetic differentiation among populations, with ΦST

ranging from 0.012 to 0.198. The two FGB populations were not significantly different from 

each other (Table 7a). The E-FGB population was homogeneous with all other small platform 

populations. The small population of Platform #3 was significantly different from the W-FGB. 

In comparison to M. decactis, D. strigosa exhibited quite a different relationship between 

ΦST and inter-site distance between platforms. The ΦST was low at very small inter-site 

distances (Table 7a). As geographic distance increased, however, ΦST increased, peaking at an 

inter-site distance of 25-35 km. Beyond that, it decreased significantly out to a distance of ~65 

km in a significant curvilinear manner (p < 0.01, 2° polynomial regression, Y = 3.144 + 0.869 X 

– 0.013 X2). The ΦST in D. strigosa exhibited no significant trends when considered with respect 

to distance from the E-FGB. 

For platform populations, AFLPOP analyses assigned > 83% of the D. strigosa colonies back 

to their original reference sites, with proportions reaching almost 100% on the two platforms 

furthest east (Table 7b). The E- and W-FGB had the highest number of colonies not readily 

assignable to a single site. Similar to M. decactis, the central populations (E-FGB, W-FGB, and 

Platform #3) had the largest number of assignments to neighboring populations. There was also 

no correlation between platform age and level of self-allocation in D. strigosa (Pearson’s 

product-moment correlation analysis, r = 0.909, p > 0.05).

Using AFLPOP, we made all possible pair-wise comparisons regarding the allocation of D.

strigosa colonies to sites versus inter-site distance. The resulting pattern was very similar to that 

derived for M. decactis (Figure 24a). That is, populations had highly variable self-allocation 

levels, but, in all cases, levels of cross-allocation fell off significantly and exponentially, even at 

distances of one to several kilometers (Figure 24b), suggesting that the populations are highly 

dissimilar at even short distances. One of the differences between D. strigosa and M. decactis

was that cross-allocation levels at short inter-site distances were higher in Madracis than in 

Diploria. 
54

Table 7

Assessment of Genetic Differentiation among Populations of the Coral D. Strigosa

W-FGB Platform 3 E-FGB Platform 5 Platform 7

n 29 5 23 4 3

Compared to

↓

W-FGB P<0.001 0.1119 0.3407 0.46

Platform 3 0.0629 0.1249 P<0.001 0.3926

E-FGB 0.0127 0.0508 0.03846 0.3956

Platform 5 0.0222 0.1657 0.0183 P<0.001

Platform 7 0.0686 0.0121 0.038 0.1975

Overall ΦST = 0.073

Allocated to

↓

W-FGB 34.10% 0.10% 1.20% 0.00% 0.00%

Platform 3 0.40% 83.30% 0.90% 0.00% 0.00%

E-FGB 1.40% 0.10% 32.70% 0.00% 0.00%

Platform 5 0.20% 0.00% 0.10% 100.00% 0.00%

Platform 7 0.10% 0.00% 0.20% 0.00% 99.80%

CANM 63.80% 16.50% 64.90% 0.00% 0.20%

Totals 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Reference Population

(a)AMOVA

(b) AFLPOP
55

3.3.3 Montastraea cavernosa (broadcaster)

M. cavernosa was the least abundant coral on the platforms, yielding low sample numbers. 

M. cavernosa occurred only on the E- and W-FGB and Platform #7. Nonetheless, patterns in 

genetic affinities were still discernible. Unlike the other two species, AMOVA identified the two 

FGB populations as being significantly different from each other (Table 8a). Like M. decactis, 

however, the small population on Platform #7 was found to be genetically homogeneous with the 

W-FGB (ΦST = 0.010), but not with the E-FGB (ΦST = 0.115). 

Although the ΦST values were generally low in M. cavernosa, as inter-site distance increased, 

there was an increase in genetic differentiation between coral populations (Table 8a; p < 0.05, 

Kendall’s rank correlation analysis, T = 0.674; p < 0.05, Sum of Squared Difference in Ranks). 

The variance was high, but the increase was nonetheless significant. The pattern is similar to 

that of M. decactis. (The sample sizes encountered here for M. cavernosa prohibit meaningful 

direct comparisons with results derived from D. strigosa.) The AFLPOP analyses allocated >

68% of the M. cavernosa colonies on both FGBs and the sample platform back to their reference 

populations (Table 8b). Unlike M. decactis and D. strigosa, however, M. cavernosa populations 

on both banks exhibited high levels of self-allocation. The number of platform populations was 

not sufficient to test for platform-age effects. 

As in M. decactis and D. strigosa, the M. cavernosa populations appear to be highly variable 

with respect to self-allocation, although it did reach high levels in some cases (Table 8b). Crossallocations decrease rapidly, becoming significantly different, however, as distances between 

populations increase (Figure 24c; p < 0.01, 2-parameter hyperbolic decay regression analysis, Y 

= (47.383 * 2.740)/(2.740 + X). The exponential decay is less dramatic than in the other two 

species, but this is most likely an artifact of sample size. 
56

Table 8.

Assessment of Genetic Differentiation among Populations of the Coral Montastraea cavernosa

W-FGB E-FGB Platform 7

Ni 27 25 8

Compared to 

↓

W-FGB P<0.001 0.995

E-FGB 0.0881 P<0.001

Platform 7 0.0101 0.1154

Overall ΦST = 0.08

Allocated to

↓

W-FGB 68.20% 0.20% 0.90%

E-FGB 1.50% 85.20% 0.20%

Platform 7 1.20% 0.10% 74.20%

CANM 29.10% 14.50% 24.70%

Totals 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

(b) AFLPOP

Reference Population

(a)AMOVA
57

4.0 DISCUSSION

4.1 ADULT CORAL COMMUNITIES ON PLATFORMS SURROUNDING THE FLOWER 

GARDEN BANKS

Nine of the 11 species found on the platforms surrounding the FGB are commonly found on 

reefs of the Caribbean, GOM, and Florida Keys (Wells, 1973, Humann and DeLoach, 2002; 

Table 4). Most occur on the FGB (Gittings, 1992; Bright et al., 1991). Two are normally found 

in the early stages of succession on Caribbean reefs-represented as recruits (Sammarco, 1980,

1982): Millepora alcicornis and Porites astreoides. They are also characteristic of disturbed 

communities (Edmunds, 1999; Lirman and Fong, 1996 Aronson and Precht, 2001). P. 

astreoides was, however, rare on the study platforms. Adults of Agaricia spp., a common 

pioneer species (characteristic of early successional stages; McNaughton and Wolf, 1979; Miller 

and Ricklefs, 1999; Smith and Smith, 1999) were completely absent, as were their recruits, 

which is highly unusual (Sammarco, 1987). The low abundances of these pioneer species 

indicated that the adult coral community observed on the platforms exhibits a stronger affinity to 

later, more mature stages of succession, not that of a young or disturbed habitat (McNaughton 

and Wolf 1979; Miller and Ricklefs, 1999). 

The lack of Porites and Agaricia could be caused by several factors, such as 1) successional 

events associated with this unique platform environment (e.g., availability of hard substratum 

without sedimentation stress; 2) a higher probability of success in corals characteristic of later 

successional stages when involved in competition for space against associated epibiota on the 

platforms (Sammarco, 1980 1982; Coll et al., 1988; Alino et al., 1992) ; and/or 3) a lack of 

abundant larval recruitment of early successional species because of their being primarily 

brooders confounded by distance from the nearest source of such larvae, which is the FGB 

(Sammarco and Andrews, 1988, 1989; Harrison and Wallace, 1990; Sammarco, 1991, 1994). 

The answer is not yet known. Data from related experiments regarding coral recruitment and 

genetic affinities between the platforms, the FGB, and the wider GOM and western Atlantic 

region have indicated that these regions are genetically distinct (Sammarco and Brazeau, 2001; 

Atchison, 2003; Brazeau et al., in press). Additional data are currently being processed and will 

be presented elsewhere (Sammarco et al., work in progress). Preliminary data suggest that the 

FGB themselves experience abundant coral recruitment, most likely from self-seeding.

Tubastraea coccinea was present in abundance, as has been observed in earlier studies (e.g.,

Castello et al., 2001). This species was introduced from the Pacific into the Caribbean in 1943 

and spread throughout the Caribbean in the 1950s (Cairns, 2000; Fenner 2001), and was reported 

to be present in high numbers in the GOM in the 1990s (Fenner, 2001). Because of this, and its 

high capacity to colonize natural and artificial substrata, its presence on the platforms was not 

surprising. It was previously reported to be absent on the FGB (Bright et al., 1984) but has 

recently been sighted there in very low abundance (NOAA, 2008; E. Hickerson, pers. comm.). 

Although the presence of the platforms may have facilitated the spread of this invasive species, it 

is unlikely that the platforms are solely responsible for the spread or that the absence of 

platforms would have prevented such because of the species’ innate high capacity for effective 

dispersal. Note its spread, as stated above, throughout the Caribbean. Because Tubastraea is not 

present in any substantial numbers on the FGB, it is most likely colonizing the northern GOM 
58

from elsewhere. Acropora palmata was also recently observed to colonize both the E-FGB and 

W-FGB (Precht and Aronson, 2006; Hickerson, pers. comm.), and its presence there is believed 

to be part of a natural range extension. 

Of the 11 corals found, five were spawners and four were brooders (see Table 4). Mode of 

reproduction is not known for one (Phyllangia americana); M. alcicornis is a colonial hydroid 

species rather than a true scleractinian coral and is presumed to release medusae, like its 

congenerics (Soong and Cho, 1998). The most abundant coral, Madracis decactis, is a brooder. 

The second most abundant, Diploria strigosa, is a broadcaster. The Montastraea species 

complex, mass spawners and abundant on the FGB, were absent from the platforms. The 

platforms were not dominated by either brooders or broadcast spawners. There was also no 

relationship between coral abundance and distance from the FGB, a key potential source of 

larvae. From the data generated here, there does not appear to be any advantage for a species to 

use one mode of reproduction or the other to colonize platforms. Both brooders and spawners 

are dispersed equally well in this region of the GOM. 

Initially, it was surprising to find no significant relationship between coral abundance and 

distance from the FGB. One would expect that there would be, because the FGB are the only 

two well-developed reefs in the northern GOM, a point-source distance effect might be evident, 

and platforms more remote from the FGB would possess more limited coral populations. We 

were not able to confirm this, however; the variance in coral abundance was high, and no trends 

were present in the data for distance from the FGB. 

There are four possible explanations for this lack of a significant relationship between coral 

abundance and distance from the FGB. 1) Our sample size at this point in the study (13 

platforms) may not be sufficient to demonstrate a significant effect. Increasing the number of 

platforms sampled may raise the “power of the test” (Sokal and Rohlf, 1981), allowing detection 

of such. This would include not only sampling more platforms within the current study area, but 

also expanding the study area by > 3 times the radius (> 150-200 km) of the current one. 2) The 

distances from the FGB may be sufficiently far away to allow coral larvae being released from 

there to be evenly diffused and mixed, so that recruitment on the platforms is relatively even 

between them. Preliminary data derived from the coral settlement portion of this study (to be 

presented elsewhere) will examine this hypothesis in greater detail (Sammarco et al., work in 

progress). 3) The FGB may not be the point source of larvae for these platforms. For example, 

Stetson Bank possesses a coral community less developed than the FGB and is only 60 km away. 

In addition, scleractinian corals (e.g., Montastraea cavernosa) occur on numerous mesophotic 

(low light) banks throughout the northern GOM (Schmahl, 2003). Larvae derived from this and 

other banks could be confounding any distance effect examined here. Data currently being 

processed regarding the genetic affinity between coral populations of M. decactis, D. strigosa, 

and M. cavernosa on the platforms versus those on the FGB (Atchison, 2005; Atchison et al., 

2008; Sammarco et al., 2012) should help shed light on this question. 4) Platform age is 

significantly confounding any distance effect which may be present (discussed below) within the 

distance range examined here. Nonetheless, data collected thus far indicate that distance from 

the FGB is not associated with adult coral community structure on oil and gas platforms–at least 

at the spatial scale considered here-within a radius of <50 km. 
59

Expanding surveys to a radius of > 200-300 km may reveal a distance effect, based on 

probable larval survival time and diffusion effects (Bassim and Sammarco, 2003). Such a survey 

would also help to identify the geographic limits of coral settlement and survival, as potentially 

influenced by temperature, salinity, turbidity, oxygen, etc.. It is possible that coral populations 

on sister submerged banks could influence populations on the platforms, but populations on the 

FGB are so abundant that that effect would likely be swamped by the latter. 

The fact that many coral community variables were positively associated with platform age 

indicates that, as the platform grows older, so does development and complexity of the coral 

community; coral abundance and species diversity are increasing through natural successional 

processes. Colony size, as indicated by M. decactis, was also, on the average, larger on 

platforms > 14 years in age (Table 5). The fact that coral species diversity also increased with 

platform age supported the concept that community development was increasing with time, as 

supported by both the univariate and multivariate/pattern-seeking analyses. This is important, 

because platforms are removed from service shortly after all production within a lease block has 

ceased. These data indicate that environmental value of the platforms in service will increase 

with time. This “age-value” relationship may have implications for decision-making regarding 

decommissioning of the platforms. 

The positive association between platform-age and coral community development appears to 

be linear in nature. A close examination of the data indicates that there is little development, 

however, visible to the naked eye, during the first 12-15 years of the platform’s life. This was 

also confirmed by the pattern-seeking analysis. After this time, community development is 

steady. There are three possible reasons why this may be occurring. First, M. decactis, a 

dominant coral on the platforms, and some other late successional species may not be adapted to 

compete well with early successional species of the associated epibiota (e.g., certain sponges, 

bryozoans, hydrozoans, tunicates, and algae) but may be better adapted to compete with later 

successional species. That is, they may reach the platform in a continuous flow over the first 15 

years or so, but those spat that settle on the platforms do not necessarily survive under early 

successional conditions. This would be a post-settlement control. Second, the early successional 

species of epibiota may simply provide the wrong cues for larval settlement, and the planulae 

respond to them with a negative preference for settlement, which would be a pre-settlement 

control. Third, it may be possible that the larvae for these species simply did not encounter the 

platforms until a later age in the life of the platform. I believe that this is unlikely, however, 

because so many species exhibit the same distributional pattern. This may also have been 

influenced by the level of resolution of surveys for adult populations of corals on the platforms, 

i.e., corals < 1 cm were generally not detected and counted by divers. The coral settlement part 

of the study did, however, take into account coral spat > 500 μm in diameter. 

It is also possible that physical characteristics of the platforms may have affected coral 

recruitment during the first 12-15 years after deployment. Anti-corrosion paints are sometimes 

used on the platforms, along with large sacrificial zinc anodes, and induced cathodic currents on 

some of the newer platforms. High densities of T. coccinea, however, were observed directly on 

the anodes. When production wells are being drilled or producing, the upper levels of the 

platforms (< 6 m) may have been exposed to drilling muds and cuttings. 
60

The fact that D. strigosa abundance showed no relationship with platform age indicated that 

it survives equally well as a pioneer or a late successional species. Abundance of T. coccinea in 

shallow water significantly decreased with age. This implies that, of all of the corals observed in 

this study, T. coccinea resembles a pioneer species more than any other species. It is possible 

that, in the long term, its dominance in the community might decrease. Abundance of M.

decactis did not show any relationship to platform age in shallow water, but, on the other hand, 

was clearly positively associated with platform age at deeper depths and in both sets of depths 

combined. It is possible that D. strigosa, T. coccinea, and M. decactis are capable of colonizing 

a platform, particularly in shallow-water, at any platform age and easily outcompeting the 

associated sessile epibiota for space. Further, coral diversity clearly increased with age, and this 

is known to occur in many communities, particularly during the early and intermediate stages of 

succession (Odum, 1969; Mellinger and McNaughton, 1975), including coral reefs (Yu and 

Zou, 1996; Miller and Barimo, 1999). 

There was clearly differential settlement and/or survival of corals with respect to depth, as is 

known to occur in the Indo-Pacific (Sammarco, 1994). Depth distributions observed here were 

significantly different from uniform; different species exhibited depth-specific patterns of 

settlement and/or survival between 0 and 33 m. This type of study design is particularly good for 

distinguishing depth effects because it allows vertical transects across the depth gradient over a 

uniform substrate. In normal studies of coral depth-distribution, transects must be performed 

over wide areas of reef with varying bottom types in order to cover the entire depth range of a 

gently sloping forereef. Here, rather than the substrate having an average slope of 1:10, it has a 

slope that is almost vertical (e.g., 1:0.1). Thus, the depth distributions become readily 

discernible through vertical surveys. Platforms also have additional hard substratum created by 

diagonal and horizontal support structures. The depths of these structures are fairly consistent 

among platforms at ~11-14 m, 26-27 m, and below. Rezak et al., (1985) reported broad biotic 

zonation with depth on the FGB. Here, we have demonstrated species-specificity in coral depthdistribution on the platforms at a higher degree of resolution. Any bias in the depth-distribution 

data associated with these structures was eliminated by standardizing coral abundance by area. 

When platforms become part of the Rigs-to-Reefs Program, they are sometimes cut at a 

depth of > 26 m to leave sufficient depth for navigation by larger vessels. The top portion may 

be deposited on the bottom or removed and brought to shore. Another option is to cut the 

structure below the mudline and topple it in place, leaving at least 26 m clearance to the surface. 

Because M. decactis had a relatively larger proportion of its colonies occurring below 27 m

depth, it is well adapted for deeper reefs and would probably be retained in the case of a cut 

platform. D. strigosa, another common Caribbean coral, had the highest proportion of its 

populations at ~10 m and no colonies occurring below 27 m. Thus, most if not all colonies of D.

strigosa would be lost in a Rigs-to-Reefs placement. T. coccinea, with its near-normal depth 

distribution, exhibited its mode at ~16.5 m, differing from the other two species. It had 

significantly higher representation in waters < 27 m depth, indicating that abundance of this 

species would be reduced with Rigs-to-Reefs placements, particularly in the short-term. Deeper 

surveys are required to determine the maximum depth of these corals and the character of their 

deeper distributions. 
61

The general homogeneity of M. decactis colony size on older platforms reinforces the finding 

that the population may reach a mature stage of development after ~15 yrs. Nonetheless, the 

sample sizes were probably too small to confirm this. Once again, a wider geographic survey 

may make it possible to detect relationships that may exist between colony size and platform age 

or distance from the FGB. 

It would appear that those oil and gas platforms in the GOM that possess coral populations 

clearly have positive environmental value. The fact that platforms occurring in offshore 

environments capable of supporting coral growth are supporting coral populations where there 

were none before the mid-twentieth century implies that they may play some role in the broader 

ecology of coral community dynamics within the GOM region as a whole. 

4.2 CORAL RECRUITMENT ON NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO OIL AND GAS

PLATFORMS

The low density of coral settlement observed on these study platforms compared to the EFGB and elsewhere in the Caribbean is unusual (Bak and Engel, 1979; Sammarco, 1980, 1982, 

1985, 1987, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2005; Rylaarsdam, 1983; van Moorsel, 1983; Rogers et al., 1984; 

Johnson, 1992; Edmunds, 2000; Miller et al., 2000; Sammarco and Brazeau, 2001; Brazeau et 

al., 2005, 2008; Vermeij and Sandin, 2008; Brazeau and Sammarco, in prep.; but see Quinn and 

Kojis, 2005). This rarity in settlement indicates that the platforms are unique and fragile 

artificial reef environments in the GOM. Spat density data were standardized to no./450 cm2 ; 

thus, comparative amounts of total surface area available for settlement was most likely not 

important. What may have affected settlement, however, is the fact that these structures are not 

solid obstructions to far-field flow. They are reticulated, allowing flow-through of water. 

Eddies formed by such currents would be at the micro-scale, rather than the meso-scale, known 

to retain larvae (Hamner and Hauri, 1981; Hamner and Wolanski, 1988; Sammarco and 

Andrews, 1988, 1989; Wolanski and Hamner, 1988; Andrews et al., 1989; Wolanski et al., 1989; 

Black et al., 1990; Black and Moran, 1991; Black et al., 1991; Andrews and Gay, 1994; 

Sammarco, 1994). The probability of encounter with the substrate due to the absence of mesoscale eddies capable of retaining larvae near these structures was probably reduced. 

The homogeneity of settlement density between platforms indicates that, in general, 

settlement was equitable over the period of the study. This was evident in the overall settlement 

data and in T. coccinea. It also suggests that the distance between the source of larvae, most 

likely the FGB, and the points of settlement–the platforms-was sufficiently large to permit 

substantial diffusion of larvae (Okubo, 1980, 1994; Okubo and Levin, 1989). The few 

significant differences observed between racks was most likely due to minor, small-scale 

patchiness in settlement (see Lewis, 1996; Dunstan and Johnson, 1998; Adjeroud et al., 2007). 

The species composition of coral spat settling on the platforms surrounding the FGB was 

unusual. It was inconsistent with the settlement pattern observed on the FGB (Sammarco and 

Brazeau, 2001; Sammarco, 2002, 2003, 2005; Brazeau et al., 2005, 2008; Brazeau and 

Sammarco, in prep.). On the platforms, T. coccinea and Montastraea sp. dominated the spat 

community, which was different from general recruitment patterns observed on many Caribbean 

reefs, including the FGB where Porites and Agaricia dominate the spat community (Bak and 

Engel, 1979; Sammarco, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1994; Rylaarsdam, 1983; van Moorsel, 1983; 
62

Rogers et al., 1984; Johnson, 1992; Edmunds, 2000; Miller et al., 2000; Quinn and Kojis, 2005; 

Vermeij and Sandin, 2008). These latter two genera are considered to be pioneer species, 

settling in high numbers compared to other scleractinian corals (Sammarco, 1980, 1982, 1985, 

1987). 

Another peculiar aspect of the results is that the species of the primary recruits matched the 

dominant species in the adult coral community. In general, the community composition of 

juveniles on natural coral reefs does not resemble that of the adults (Sammarco, 1980, 1982). 

Agaricia and Porites spp. are often the dominant recruits in natural, mature, later sere reef 

communities. These genera are generally not the dominant adults in the same community as 

measured by percent-cover or number of colonies. In addition, the species composition of coral 

spat settling on the platforms considered here did not resemble that of spat settling on the EFGB– as documented either in the sister study on the E-FGB or that of Baggett and Bright

(1985). These latter investigators also reported an absence of coral recruitment on the oil 

producing platform in close proximity to the E-FGB–HI-A-389-located only 2.1 km from the EFGB. This platform is well outside of a 600 m radius from the reef, a distance demonstrated to 

be potentially the highest area of coral settlement on a reef. This 600 m distance is based on farfield current velocity and direction, and bathymetric contours being conducive to forming mesoscale eddies that will retain coral larvae (Sammarco, 1988, 1989). 

The two most abundant species of coral spat that recruited to the platforms were the 

ahermatypic coral T. coccinea, a brooder, and the hermatypic Montastraea sp., a broadcaster. 

The hermatypic coral M. sp. is a brooder. Madracis and Montastraea are dominant as adults on 

the FGB (Monaco et al., 2008; Precht et al., 2008), while T. coccinea, an invasive species from 

the Indo-Pacific, is rare as an adult on the FGB (Fenner and Banks, 2004; NOAA National 

Marine Sanctuaries, 2008; Sammarco et al., work in progress) but common on platforms in this 

region. These unusual recruitment patterns underscore the unique aspects of the platform 

environment as an artificial reef. The reason that Montastraea sp. was significantly higher on 

two platforms and on the E-FGB than on the other platforms was most likely an artifact of 

differential sample sizes and variances between samples. 

The question arises as to why coral settlement was so low and relatively homogeneous on the 

platforms when compared to the results of other settlement studies in the Caribbean (Bak and 

Engel, 1979; Sammarco, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2005; Rylaarsdam, 1983; 

van Moorsel, 1983), or on the FGB themselves (Brazeau and Sammarco, 2009; Sammarco et al., 

work in progress). One possible explanation may be found by comparing these results with those 

of an earlier experiment. This experiment performed on the Great Barrier Reef, showed that 

coral settlement around an isolated reef could be enhanced locally by associated eddies that 

helped to retain larvae in the lee of currents around the reef (The Helix Experiment; Sammarco, 

1988, 1989; Andrews et al., 1989; Sammarco, 1994; Andrews and Gay, 1994). It also 

demonstrated that recruitment within 600 m of the reef was 5-20 times higher than that further 

away. Beyond this distance, density of coral recruitment fell dramatically, approaching a low 

asymptote starting at distances of 1.2 km from the reef. This phenomenon was being driven by 

advection processes derived from currents which carry the larvae away from the reef, and 

diffusion processes which spread the larvae through space as they are being advected (Okubo, 

1980, 1994; Okubo and Levin, 1989). When one compares the coral settlement density observed 
63

here with that observed in the Helix Experiment, plotting it against distance from the FGB and 

distance from Helix Reef, respectively, it becomes apparent that the platforms considered here 

all fall beyond 1.2 km from the FGB (Figure 26). This potentially places them in a region where 

they may be approaching an asymptote of low recruitment due to diffusion effects, associated 

with distance from the potential larval source. This is consistent with the generally 

homogeneous low level of overall recruitment observed on the platforms. It would appear that 

the diffusion and possibly mixing processes in this region for larvae are particularly strong. The 

comparison also demonstrates that recruitment levels on platforms in the GOM are much lower 

than those on the FGB or in the central region of the Great Barrier Reef. 

The oil and gas platforms in the northern GOM represent unique ecological environments 

and generally exhibit very low levels of coral recruitment when compared to other locations in

the tropical western Atlantic. Nonetheless, this recruitment, when permitted to continue for up to 

~30 years, has clearly resulted in the development of adult coral communities, albeit at a slow 

rate. There has also been substantial development of associated benthic, demersal, and pelagic 

reef biota. These coral communities are to be considered fragile because of low recruitment rates 

and slow community development. If there were to be a mass mortality of corals on the

platforms, community regeneration would most likely require decades.
64

Coral Spat Density vs. Distance

Great Barrier Reef and Gulf of Mexico Data

Distance from Reef (km), log (X + 1)

Mean Spat Density

 _______

( \/ Y + 0.5 ) 

Helix Experiment Spat (no./ 600 cm2)

Extrapolation

Coral Spat on GOM Platforms (no./ 277 cm2)

Linear Regression

_

_______

0 0.6 1.2 2.5 5.0 10 50 100

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_ 0

1

5

10

25

50

75

100

Figure 26. Relationship between coral spat density on oil and gas platforms studied here and 

distance in km from the nearest perimeter (30 m isobath) of the nearest FGB

(squares). Average density of Montastraea sp. spat in no. per 450 cm2 on six oil and 

gas platforms in the northern GOM in the vicinity of the FGB, by platform. The 

platforms are HI-A-330, HI-A-349B, HI-A-368B*, HI-A-376A, HI-A-571A*, and HI-A382. Data derived from coral settlement on terracotta plates mounted on steel racks 

and deployed at depths of 15 and 27 m for one year during 2001-2002 or 2002-

2003*. Data combined for depths (see text for explanation). Comparative data also 

shown for coral settlement on plates derived from the Helix Experiment, performed 

on the Great Barrier Reef, from distances of > 300 m from the reef perimeter 

(Sammarco and Andrews, 1988, 1989). Solid black circles represent empirical data;

hollow circles represent values extrapolated from that empirical data, using a 

hyperbolic/asymptotic relationship. Means and 95% confidence limits shown. Data 

transformed by square-root (Y + 0.5) for normalization purposes.
65

4.3 GENETIC CONNECTIVITY IN CORALS ON THE FLOWER GARDEN BANKS AND 

SURROUNDING OIL AND GAS PLATFORMS, GULF OF MEXICO 

Homogeneity in M. decactis populations between the two FGBs is not surprising, because 

these reefs have co-existed in close proximity (<12 km) for 16,000-18,000 years (Rezak et al., 

1985). This genetic connectivity also extended to the Madracis populations within 10 km to the 

west (Platform #2) and 25 km to the east (Platform #4). There was less self-assignment in 

populations of the more central sites, near and including the FGB’s, than at the outermost sites. 

Assignment to the “CANM” (Criteria for Allocation Not Met) category does not, of course, 

necessarily imply lack of any assignment for a colony; rather, because we used a threshold of log 

1.0, it implies less than a 10-fold margin of probability of a colony “belonging to” one 

population and only one population compared with the next most probable population. 

Generally this meant that the population had a nearly equal probability (less than a 10 fold 

difference) of being assigned to more than one population. 

If one considers the genetic divergence between M. decactis populations versus distance to 

the FGB, the patterns in ΦST suggest that populations on the FGBs are indeed seeding the 

surrounding platforms–or at least are more frequently seeding those in the immediate vicinity. 

Also, the increasing dissimilarity with distance could be a sign of founder effect; that is, fewer 

and fewer larvae are successfully recruiting on the platforms with distance from the FGB, 

carrying with them a smaller and smaller sample of the gene pool of origin and presenting an 

increasingly skewed representation of the source population. Thus, the genetic signature appears 

to be more different with distance. As distance increases, genetic affinity to the FGB is reduced 

and populations become more distinct. 

The fact that genetic differentiation increased in M. decactis between all sites as geographic 

distance between them increased, also suggests that gene flow is restricted by inter-site distance. 

The same pattern appeared in M. cavernosa, where genetic differences increased with geographic 

distance. In M. decactis, the distance after which all population comparisons were significantly 

different was 55 km, indicating that gene flow is probably severely restricted beyond this 

distance. The pattern of increasing genetic differentiation with geographic distance in M.

cavernosa was also significant, but it is difficult to make in-depth interpretations of the data with 

the limited sample sizes encountered here.

This concept is reinforced in M. decactis by the AFLPOP self-allocation data. Increasing 

levels of self-allocation with distance from the FGB indicates that the populations become more 

distinct with distance from these reefs. It also implies that the FGB may well be a source of 

larvae for colonization of these structures over the past 30 years, but again with strong founder 

effects occurring due to very low levels of successful recruitment on an annual basis. Data that 

we have collected in a sister study demonstrate that annual coral settlement rates on the 

platforms are extremely low–and that M. decactis is one of the only two species that settled there 

(Sammarco and Atchison, 2002; Sammarco, Atchison, and Boland, work in progress).

Patterns in inter-site allocations in M. decactis along with self-allocations yielded by 

AFLPOP analyses reinforce this conclusion. Clearly, differences in the genetic structure of the 

platform populations emerge immediately with any distance between sites. The observed pattern 
66

in M. decactis was mimicked directly by D. strigosa and, to a lesser degree, by M. cavernosa. 

The higher variance in this last case is surely due to small sample size. 

The linear decreasing pattern in inter-site recognition levels with distance (excluding selfallocation) in M. decactis reinforces the conclusion that populations are becoming increasingly 

distinct as distance between them increases. This is evident even when overall cross-recognition 

levels are very low. 

Both M. decactis and D. strigosa populations on the two FGBs were genetically 

homogeneous. Even though platform population sizes were small, the data suggest gene flow 

between the FGBs and Platform #3, located between the two banks. As in Madracis, the two 

eastern-most Diploria populations, Platform #5 and Platform #7, showed no affinity to the banks 

or Platform #3. Platforms #3, #5, and #7 all had higher self-allocation proportions, ranging from 

83-100%, perhaps due to founder effects. Platform age appears to have had no effect on the 

patterns observed; all platforms were exposed to possible colonization over a period of 15-26 

yrs. 

Patterns of cross-site recognition through AFLPOP in M. decactis versus D. strigosa

contrasted strikingly. First, this response could have been produced by simple genetic drift 

(founder effects). Sample sizes are indeed different between our two key species, and 

recruitment to these sites may be rare and sporadic. It is surprising, however, that, given the 

possible age of these sites (< 27 years) population structure didn’t exhibit some integration of 

multiple recruitment events. Second, small sample sizes could have produced the observed 

patterns, which were statistically significant (i.e., non-random). Once again, our samples 

represent the entire populations within a given depth-range at these sites and thus should be a 

good estimate of population differentiation, despite the low probability of observing the 

phenomenon.

A third explanatory hypothesis is that the more dissimilar patterns with seemingly greater 

rates of differentiation at intermediate distances between sites may have resulted from Diploria’s 

broadcasting mode of reproduction. Larvae settling at the longer distances may actually have 

been more closely related to the source population than those at intermediate distances. Upon 

spawning, buoyant coral eggs are fertilized externally and require 48-96 hours before they are 

competent to settle (Harrison and Wallace, 1990). During this time, they have little or no 

swimming capabilities (primarily used for depth control; Sammarco, 1994; Stake and Sammarco, 

2003) and are subject to currents for advective dispersal. Assuming a patch of larvae 

experiences an average current velocity in the region is ~15 cm/s (Lugo-Fernandez, 1998, 2006; 

Lugo-Fernandez et al., 2001) during the spawning period, it would require a minimum of 2.3

days to travel 30 km barely entering its period of viability to settle. The observed pattern implies 

that, under these conditions, these larvae may remain in the water column for 4.7 days before

settling in larger numbers, thus generally bypassing locations of an intermediate distance from 

the source in preference to locations encountered after about twice the travel time. Current 

velocities vary widely in the GOM, of course, and are highly dependent upon numerous largescale oceanographic structures.
67

These results plus self-allocation patterns with respect to distance to the FGB suggest that D.

strigosa is much more easily isolated than its brooding counterpart, M. decactis. In this case, 

differentiation of populations appear to be rapid and complete within distances of <25 km 

compared with 60 km in M. decactis. We believe this is a function of extreme founder effect due 

to negligible levels of recruitment over ecological time (15-27 years). 

Unlike Madracis and Diploria, Montastraea populations on the E- and W-FGB were 

genetically distinct. The small population on Platform #7 (easternmost) was homogeneous with 

the W-FGB but genetically distinct from the E-FGB. This suggests that the colonies making up 

this population may be derived from the W-FGB (or a genetically similar population). 

In an earlier study of Agaricia agaricities (a brooder), we found that populations on Crocker 

and Conch Reefs, Florida Keys, which occur within 20 km of each other, exhibit relatively 

strong genetic affinities (Brazeau et al., 2005). Similar patterns have been observed in 

Seriatopora hystrix in the Red Sea (Maier et al., 2005), Lophelia pertusa in the deep sea of the 

NE Atlantic (Le Goff-Vitry et al., 2004), and Balanophyllia europaea in the Mediterranean 

(Goffredo et al., 2004). Regarding the E-FGB, genetic connectivity did not extend to the far 

western (Platform #1; 15 km) or far eastern (Platforms #6 and #7; 50-65 km) platforms. With 

respect to the W-FGB, some connectivity was observed to the east, but not to the west. There 

appears to be some evidence of cross-colonization between platforms or “island hopping” 

(Atchison, 2005; Atchison et al., 2008; Sammarco et al., 2012). Such events are very effective in 

spreading the introduction of a species, whether under natural or anthropogenic conditions 

(Elton, 1977; e.g., Garb and Gillespie, 2006). The level of this seeding, however, is low. 

Potential mechanisms of cross-seeding in the region have been identified. That is, it is known 

that larvae may be carried from the FGB inshore to the north, then to a nearshore westerly 

current, and then to a southerly coastal jet, carrying them back to the W-FGB region again 

(Lugo-Fernandez 1998, Lugo-Fernandez et al., 2001; see Figure 2). 

Small coral population sizes on the platforms are probably due to the relative sizes of the 

platforms, their structure (comprised of cylinders), their distances from the nearest potential 

larval source, and community age. Small sample sizes decrease the power of the test (Sokal and 

Rohlf, 1994) and make it more difficult to demonstrate significant differences between 

populations. Here, any significant differences found between small populations would imply 

that these differences are relatively robust. Small sample sizes should thus be less of a problem 

for interpreting the data in this study because we are dealing with total population size on the 

platforms. However, they may still pose a problem for extrapolating results to other studies. 

The generally low levels of genetic connectivity observed in all species here could be the 

result of colonization by larvae from more distant sources (Ahlroth et al., 2003). The nearest 

source would be the Lobos-Tuxpan Reef System (13 km off Cabo Rojo or 640 kmSW of the 

FGB) or the Campeche Bank Reefs (181 km off the Yucatan Peninsula), although LugoFernandez et al., (2006) have found that Alacran may also be considered a potential source. 

There are similarities in coral community structure between the FGB and Campeche reefs, and 

the FGB are believed to be an extension of communities that occur in the southern GOM (Bright 

et al., 1984). This recruitment would most likely be a rare event. Unfortunately, we have no 

genetic data from these southerly regions with which to compare our results. M. decactis and 
68

other spp. occur on other platforms throughout the northern GOM (Sammarco et al., 2006), and 

related molecular genetic analyses are being performed to determine potential connectivity there

(Sammarco et al., work in progress). Another explanation for the generally low levels of genetic 

affinity is that a source coral could actually have been present on the FGB but that recruits onto 

the platforms represent sampling error or bias, resulting in founder effect. Such bias might be 

expected to decrease over time with successive recruitment events, if self-seeding did not occur. 

Much debate has surrounded the dispersal capabilities of brooding compared with

broadcasting corals (Sammarco and Andrews, 1989; Sammarco, 1994; Ayre and Hughes, 2000; 

Miller and Mundy, 2003). It is now known that dispersal among brooding species may be more 

variable than broadcasters (Harii and Kayanne 2003; Magalon et al., 2005; Sammarco et al., 

2004). The dispersal potential of larvae is influenced by, among other things, larval competency 

period and currents carrying the larvae (Harii and Kayanne, 2003; Olson, 1985). The larval 

competency period of M. decactis may be greater than that of the other two study species, since 

its planulae are relatively large (Vermeij et al., 2003) and have a high lipid content, making them 

well-suited for long-distance dispersal (Richmond, 1981). 

In this study, the brooder M. decactis was the most abundant and widely dispersed species. It 

has been more successful at recruiting to nearby sites than either of the broadcasting species

(Diploria or Montastraea), which release several orders of magnitude more reproductive 

propagules than Madracis. The major advantage that Madracis has over the two broadcasters is 

its repeated release of planulae for a period of 8-10 days per month encompassing major changes 

in tidal amplitude. It does this over 8-10 months of the year (McGuire, 1998), subjecting the 

larvae to an array of circulation patterns, traveling in a multitude of directions throughout the 

year. These conditions would allow Madracis to take advantage of the platforms to successfully 

extend its geographic range. The newly established populations on the platforms can produce 

larvae that can in turn settle on neighboring platforms (Barber et al., 2002), acting as a stabilizing 

force in the ecosystem in the event of a disturbance. This suggests that the species with the 

greatest potential for widest dispersal will not necessarily exhibit the highest population densities 

and widest geographic distribution. Some species with crawling larvae and apparently highly 

limited dispersal capabilities exhibit a very broad geographic range (Sammarco, 1994), such as 

some gastropods (Hoskin, 1997), teredinid bivalves (Calloway and Turner, 1983), and corals 

(e.g., Balanophyllia elegans; Gerrodette, 1981). Pocillopora damicornis, a brooding coral, has 

among the widest geographic range of any known coral, extending from the Red Sea to the 

eastern Pacific. 

Another possible reason why M. decactis has been more successful at colonization and 

exhibited the highest level of genetic affinity between sites is the nearly-immediate readiness of 

its larvae to settle (e.g., four hours after release). This is suggested by the distribution pattern of 

the broadcasters on the two eastern-most sites and the pattern of ΦST in D. strigosa. The 

probability of a larva encountering a target site is dependent upon advection and diffusion, and 

decreases as a function of the square of the distance between the source and the target (Okubo,

1994). It is also possible that these two species of spat have different abilities with respect to 

competing for space with other sessile epifauna after settlement. 
69

Diploria and Montastraea are annual mass spawners and have only a single opportunity each 

year to disperse their larvae. Dispersal is entirely dependent on current patterns at that time (see 

Willis and Oliver, 1990; Baums et al., 2006). The genetic heterogeneity of these small islands 

indicates that these broadcasting species are less effective colonizers of new habitats patchilydistributed at the meso-scale. One reason that may explain why these two species have different 

population distributions on the platforms and different patterns of genetic differentiation on the 

two FGBs is that the population sizes (using percent-cover) for D. strigosa on the FGB are 1.2-

4.5 times greater than those of M. cavernosa ( Dokken et al., 1999, 2003; Precht et al., 2007; 

Zimmer et al., 2010). 

In summary, the genetic data suggest that the coral populations on the oil and gas platforms 

in the northern GOM exhibit genetic affinity to the FGB, which decreases with distance from 

them–and from each other. The brooder, M. decactis, with its extended larval release periods 

and its lack of extended delay for competence to settle, shows greater affinity to the FGB with 

distance than D. strigosa, a broadcaster. M. decactis appears to be more effective at colonizing 

small, nearby target sites and expanding their geographic range at the meso-scale. By contrast, 

the broadcaster D. strigosa is less effective in expanding its range, colonizing these relatively 

short-distance targets in a more haphazard fashion. It may be more effective at colonizing 

habitats > 60 km from their source. All species examined here exhibited substantial founder 

effect on the platforms, generally increasing with inter-site distance. These young coral 

populations appear to be much more highly differentiated at the meso-scale during these early 

stages of community succession (ecological time) than their older, more established counterparts 

(Ayre and Hughes, 2004). This implies that a great deal of time may be required, encompassing 

repeated larval colonization of patchy habitats around larger established potential sources, before 

genetic equilibrium or homogeneity is reached between them in regards to evolutionary time 

(Hellberg, 2007). 

71

5.0 CONCLUSIONS

The major conclusions of this study are listed in the bulleted lists below.

5.1 ADULT CORAL COMMUNITY STUDY

• Corals occurred on most of the oil and gas platforms surveyed around the NOAA FGB 

National Marine Sanctuary. 

• Eleven species of scleractinian corals were found: eight hermatypic, two ahermatypic, 

and one hydrozoan. 

• The most abundant corals were Madracis decactis, Diploria strigosa, and Tubastraea 

coccinea. 

• Distance from the FGB was not related to the coral community variables measured, 

including total coral abundances of the dominant three species in shallow water (< 14 m), 

deep water (14-33 m), or both depths combined. 

• Total coral abundance increased significantly with platform age. The coral community 

was best developed on platforms > 12-15 years in age. 

• Abundance of M. decactis increased significantly with platform age in deeper water and 

both depths combined, as did coral species diversity. 

• Abundance of D. strigosa showed no relationship with platform age, indicating that it 

may not be associated with any given successional sere. 

• Abundance of T. coccinea was associated with platform age only in shallow water, where 

it decreased in abundance with age, indicating that it may be an opportunistic pioneer 

species. 

• All corals exhibited a significantly non-uniform depth distribution, with total coral 

abundance peaking at 20 m and 28 m depths, even after standardizing for depth-related 

structural anomalies of the platforms. 

• M. decactis exhibited a similar bimodal depth distribution, with disproportionately high 

abundances at > 27 m depths. 

• D. strigosa exhibited abundance peaks at depths of 10- and 23-m depth and was not 

found at > 27 m depths. 

• T. coccinea exhibited a near-normal distribution, with a mode at 17 m depth. 

• Oil and gas platforms have facilitated the expansion of coral populations in the GOM. 

Such platforms have intrinsic environmental value through the presence of coral 

populations. 

• Oil and gas platforms have also facilitated expansion of exotic coral populations in the 

GOM. 

• The low levels of recruitment observed on the platforms here, cumulative over a period 

of up to 27 years, has permitted the development of adult coral communities and their 

associated benthic, demersal, and pelagic biota. These communities should be considered 

fragile because of their slow development rate. Mass coral mortality on these platforms 

would require decades for recovery. 
72

5.2 CORAL SETTLEMENT STUDY

• Density of coral spat settlement on plates exposed, for ~one year, on the oil and gas 

platforms was extraordinarily low when compared with the E-FGB, other Caribbean 

sites, or the Great Barrier Reef, averaging < 1/450 cm2

. 

• Such low recruitment rates emphasize the uniqueness and fragility of these artificial reef 

sites in comparison to natural sites, perhaps due to associated flow structure that might 

influence coral recruitment. 

• There was no significant difference in coral spat density between platforms. 

• The pattern of settlement suggests that the distance between the platforms and the E-FGB 

(2.1 km) and their potential larval source may have been large enough (> 0.6-1.2 km) to 

allow a high diffusion of larvae, suppressing planktonic larval densities. 

• Spat density varied significantly between racks, indicating highly localized patchiness in 

settlement patterns. 

• There was a significant difference between coral settlement densities on platforms versus

the E-FGB (data derived from a related experiment), where settlement was much higher. 

• Only three species of coral spat were found on the platforms: T. coccinea, Montastraea

sp. (most likely M. cavernosa), and Madracis sp. (most likely M. decactis), in order of 

abundance. 

• Species composition of coral spat varied substantially from that observed on the E-FGB, 

which was characterized by Agaricia and Porites. 

• Dominant recruits on the platforms matched those in the adult community on the 

platforms; this is an unusual situation. 

• Tubastraea and Montastrea spat densities did not vary significantly between platforms or 

between racks. 

5.3 CORAL MOLECULAR GENETICS STUDY

• Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) indicates that the E- and W-FGB are 

genetically homogeneous for the coral species M. decactis and D. strigosa populations.

• Populations of Montastraea cavernosa were significantly different between the two 

Banks.

• In all species, genetic distance (ΦST) increased significantly with geographic distance 

between populations, indicating that coral populations become more isolated with 

distance and acquire a stronger genetic self-identity or signature. 

• This pattern was strong in M. decactis, when considering distance between the platforms 

and distance from the perimeters of the FGB, particularly the nearest FGB. This suggests 

that the FGB may be a primary source of larvae for many coral populations on the 

platforms. 

• Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Population (AFLPOP) analyses showed that 

the degree of self-allocation to home sites also increased with inter-site distance. Cross 

allocations between sites dropped significantly and exponentially in all species within 

only one to several kilometers of the FGB. 

• M. decactis, a brooder with extended larval release periods and near-immediate 

settlement competence, showed greater affinity to the FGB with distance than D.
73

strigosa, a broadcaster. This brooder appears to be more effective at colonizing small, 

nearby target sites and expanding its geographic range at the meso-scale. 

• The low degree of genetic affinity exhibited by all species on the platforms may be 

attributed to genetic drift/founder effect or relatively small samples sizes, although it 

should be noted that total populations were sampled within the study sites. 

• In general, genetic affinity between coral populations decreased with inter-site distance. 

Young coral populations were highly differentiated in this meso-scale analysis during 

early stages of community succession. This implies that much time and repeated 

colonization of these habitats that are patchily distributed around larger potential larval 

sources will be required before genetic equilibrium or homogeneity is reached. 

75

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The Department of the Interior Mission

As the Nation’s principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has 

responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural 

resources. This includes fostering the sound use of our land and water 

resources; protecting our fish, wildlife, and biological diversity; preserving the 

environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places; 

and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The 

Department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to ensure 

that their development is in the best interests of all our people by encouraging 

stewardship and citizen participation in their care. The Department also has a 

major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people 

who live in island communities.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Mission

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) works to manage the 

exploration and development of the nation's offshore resources in a way that 

appropriately balances economic development, energy independence, and 

environmental protection through oil and gas leases, renewable energy 

development and environmental reviews and studies.