Settlement and post-settlement survival of Orbicella annularis and Orbicella faveolata (Scleractinia: Merulinidae) on substrates with coatings

Introduction: One of the main bottlenecks in restoration projects based on sexual reproduction is post-settlement survival, mainly due to competition for substrate with fleshy algae and predation. Therefore, substrates different shapes materials have been created tested, seeking optimize these processes attractive surfaces larvae structures where recruits are protected from predation, reduced. 
 Objective: To improve settlement survival two important Caribbean reef-building corals, using coatings substrates. Methods: determine whether properties favourable larval Orbicella annularis, O. faveolata, collected Puerto Morelos, Mexican Caribbean, we evaluated their three weeks six a combination properties. Each coating was designed provide out properties: 1) water repellence (hydrophobicity), 2) phosphorescence-based colour, 3) mineral-enriched surface chemistry. In separate experiment tested single property. Finally, determined annularis faveolata seven weeks. Results: The high hydrophobicity light blue phosphorescent microparticles red-orange resulted higher when compared other (30.8 - 66.7 % higher). No significant differences were found number settled water-repellence independently. Post-settlement time low, maximum 34 days after 42 faveolata. Conclusions: terms settlement, appears play an essential role choice microhabitat both But individually did not generate advantage settlement. Moreover, some chemical components associated may be counterproductive polyps over time.