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Coral Aquaculture

Coral Aquaculture. Katie Webster. Introduction. Phylum Cnidaria Colonial growth Foundation species. Polyp Anatomy. Why culture corals?. Commercial Conservation Research. Economics. Sold as ornamental organisms for aquariums

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Coral Aquaculture

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  1. Coral Aquaculture Katie Webster

  2. Introduction • Phylum Cnidaria • Colonial growth • Foundation species

  3. Polyp Anatomy

  4. Why culture corals? • Commercial • Conservation • Research

  5. Economics • Sold as ornamental organisms for aquariums • Prices vary based upon coral species, color pattern, and colony size • More colorful is more expensive • Corals are cultured and sold around the world • US is main purchaser • High shipping costs

  6. Stony Corals (Scleractinia) • Zooxanthellae symbiosis • Calcium carbonate skeleton • Reef builders

  7. Soft Corals (Octocorallia) • Flexible • Lacy appearance • Proteinaceous skeletons

  8. Aquaculture Genera • Stony corals – Order Scleractinia • Family Acroporidae -SPS • Montipora spp. • Family Dendrophylliidae - LPS • Turbinaria peltata • Dendrophyllia fistula • Soft corals – Order Alcyonacea • Family Alcyoniidae • Sarcophyton spp. • Sinularia spp.

  9. Family Acroporidae Montipora spp. Purple Montipora capricornis Supernatural Montipora capricornis

  10. Family Dendrophylliidae Turbinaria peltata Green Pagoda Coral Dendrophyllia fistula Red Sun Coral

  11. Family Alcyoniidae Sarcophytonspp. Green Toadstool Leather Long Polyping Leather

  12. Family Alcyoniidae Sinularia spp. Blue Devils Finger Leather Yellow Fiji Finger Leather

  13. Life Cycle • Budding • Colonial growth • Fragmentation • Colony physically broken into separate sections • Spawning • Free swimming larvae • Adult sessile polyps • Hermaphroditic and non-hermaphroditic types Asexual Sexual

  14. Asexual Reproduction

  15. Sexual Reproduction

  16. Reproduction in captivity • Asexual growth “fragging” • Development from zygotes • “spat stocking”

  17. Production Methods • Indoor tanks – Intensive • RAS filtration system • Zooxanthellae very sensitive • Floating nurseries – Extensive to Semi-intensive • Shallow water • Reef building

  18. Environmental Requirements • Tropical waters • Bright light • Temperature: 78°F to 84°F • Salinity : 1.026 s.g. • Calcium: 390 to 450 ppm • pH: 7.9 to 8.3 • Alkalinity: 140 to 180 ppm

  19. Indoor culture

  20. Outdoor culturing

  21. Feeds and Feeding • Zooxanthellae provide energy • Dissolved organic matter • Plankton and small organisms

  22. Advantages • Fast growing • Minimum feeding • Easy to aquaculture • Conservation efforts

  23. Disadvantages • Harmful to humans • Expensive • Predation and disease

  24. Thank you!

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