Growth of Favia and Favites Coral Transplants Based on Polyps Number

Cultivation coral by using transplantation method is one attempt to alleviate corals collection in nature. In addition to be traded, the corals can be transplanted to repair damaged coral reefs. This study utilized two size polyps form of coral Favia and Favites to be transplanted to minimize damage of coral donors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the growth of Favia and Favites transplants. The research was carried out by experimental method using a completely randomized design. Two different size of polyps i.e 2 polyps represented small size and 4 polyps represented large size were applied for each coral species. Research was conducted from April–November 2014 at Teluk Awur Bay, Jepara. The samples were observed every two weeks. Collected data were analyzed by repeated measurement ANCOVA. Statistical analysis showed that the growth of transplants did not show significant differences (P 0.05) between each genus and between 2 and 4 polyps. The growth of transplants have shown by extratentacular budding on Favia and intratentacular budding on Favites. The highest growth rate of transplants was shown by 4 polyps of Favites at 0.596 cm^2.month^-1 and the lowest by 2 polyps of Favites at 0.463 cm^2.month^-1, respectively.