Massive Coral Relocation Survival Data from the Saudi Arabian Gulf

Colony-level records detail the survival and growth of 37 massive coral colonies relocated in the Saudi Arabian Gulf in August 2018. The dataset includes survival status at two monitoring intervals (~15 and ~20 months post-relocation), initial colony size, attachment substrate, and radial extension measurements. It was created by Diego Lozano-Cortés to document mitigation outcomes under extreme environmental conditions.

Use Cases

• Analyze survival_status correlation with attachment_substrate (natural seabed vs. concrete) across coral genera.
• Model the relationship between initial colony_size (10–25 cm diameter) and subsequent radial_extension measurements for surviving colonies.
• Compare survival rates between genera (Dipsastraea, Platygyra, Porites) at two distinct monitoring intervals.
• Investigate causes of mortality or failure documented in the notes field, such as detachment or disappearance.

Strengths

• Provides structured data on 37 individual coral colonies with detailed per-colony metrics.
• Includes longitudinal monitoring at two time points (~15 and ~20 months) post-intervention.
• Records specific environmental context with seasonal temperature ranges from ~14 °C to >36 °C.

Limitations

• Very small sample size of 37 colonies limits statistical power and generalizability.
• Geographic scope is restricted to a single relocation event in the Saudi Arabian Gulf.
• Temporal coverage is limited to approximately 20 months of post-relocation monitoring.

Provenance

Source

Diego Lozano-Cortés, published on figshare.

Collection Method

Field data collected during a coral relocation operation as part of coastal development mitigation activities.

Time Range

Relocation in August 2018, with monitoring ~15 and ~20 months later.

Freshness

Data collection concluded around April 2020 (20 months after August 2018 relocation); last platform update was 2026-04-04.

Geography

Saudi Arabian Gulf, with donor and recipient sites approximately 18 km apart at ~5 m depth.