Development of a Standardized Modular System for Experimental Coral Culture

Abstract

The increasing interest in coral culture for reef restoration, biotechnological applications, and to supply the marine aquarium trade has prompted researchers to optimize coral culture protocols, with emphasis on ex situ production. However, the diversity of experimental systems employed to investigate ex situ coral production may be a bottleneck to the advance of the state of the art, as it impairs reliable comparisons between experiments, as well as the replication and optimization of culture protocols. This study presents a versatile modular culture system for experimental coral production ex situ, assembled using materials and equipments available from suppliers all over the world and thus allowing researchers worldwide to truly replicate experimental setups. The validation of the modular culture system was performed using the soft coral, Sarcophyton cf. glaucum, as a model organism. The validation experiment tested the effect of different light spectra on the photosynthetic performance, symbiont density, chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments concentration, survival, and growth of coral fragments. The validation experiment confirmed the potential of this modular culture system, which ultimately enables researchers to perform direct comparisons among experiments, and more efficiently contribute to advance ex situ coral aquaculture.

Bacterial communities from corals cultured ex situ remain stable under different light regimes — Relevance for in toto aquaculture

“…Additionally, each tank was equipped with a single circulation pump (Turbelle nanostream -6025 Tunze, Germany; approximate flow of 2500 L h −1 ). For additional details on the experimental recirculated system employed, please see Rocha et al (2015). Partial water changes (10% of total experimental system volume) were performed every week using synthetic saltwater.…”

Aquaculture of marine non‐food organisms: what, why and how?

“…While the ex situ culture of corals allows maximizing survival and growth rates by optimizing abiotic and biotic conditions, costs are higher and may constrain the use of this approach for coral restocking (Rocha et al . ). For further details on coral aquaculture, please refer to Section Corals.…”

“…Harvesting sexually reproduced recruits will enhance the genetic heterogeneity of the target population and contribute to reduce the accumulation of deleterious alleles; this genetic feature can potentially improve the efficiency of reef restoration efforts (Barton et al 2015). Ex situ coral culture for restocking has also been performed employing landbased flow-through systems, as well as recirculated culture systems (Ng et al 2013;Rocha et al 2015). While the ex situ culture of corals allows maximizing survival and growth rates by optimizing abiotic and biotic conditions, costs are higher and may constrain the use of this approach for coral restocking (Rocha et al 2015).…”

“…Ex situ coral culture for restocking has also been performed employing landbased flow-through systems, as well as recirculated culture systems (Ng et al 2013;Rocha et al 2015). While the ex situ culture of corals allows maximizing survival and growth rates by optimizing abiotic and biotic conditions, costs are higher and may constrain the use of this approach for coral restocking (Rocha et al 2015). For further details on coral aquaculture, please refer to Section Corals.…”

Asexual propagation of the soft corals Sinularia sp., Cladiella sp. and Sarcophyton sp. (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) using different methods of attachment in a recirculating seawater system

“…The dynamic appearance and colouration of soft corals have made them important additions in marine aquarium trade, particularly in reef tanks, which are gaining worldwide popularity. However, most of the soft corals used in the marine aquarium trade are collected from the wild, which in the long run will not be sustainable and will have negative impacts on the biodiversity and coral reef ecosystems (Cunha, ; Olivototo et al, ; Olivoto et al, ; Piccinetti et al, ; Rocha et al, ). The increased demand for these organisms has led to their massive harvesting and has raised the need for efficient farming methodologies.…”