As ocean warming and local stressors intensify, compounding pressure on coral reefs, effective localized mitigation strategies become critical. Artificial shading has demonstrated potential in reducing photic stress, thereby mitigating thermal damage in corals; however, its practical application demands further in-situ validation and optimization. This study assessed the ecophysiological performance of Acropora muricata under three treatments: no shading, constant shading, and a novel dynamic shading method which blocked peak midday direct irradiance. Conducted in-situ in the Eastern Philippines over a three-month period characterized by elevated thermal stress, the experiment assessed coral fragment survival, coloration (Mean Intensity Grey, MIG), and growth metrics, including linear extension and surface area. Mortality was observed under all treatments, though differences were not statistically significant. Both dynamic and constant shading markedly reduced bleaching severity, maintaining significantly darker and more uniform coloration compared to unshaded controls. Constant shading notably increased linear extension compared to dynamic shading and controls, suggesting a potential low-light stress response, although neither shading treatment showed impact on surface area growth. Dynamic shading offered operational advantages in procurement, cost, and maintenance time, supporting its inclusion in shading efforts.
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