All images and data are copyrighted to Eric Borneman or used by permission from contributors. No information can be reproduced without express written permission Is there an ideal method? Eric Borneman University of Houston Department of Biology and Biochemistry The Real Thing – What is a Coral Reef? Characteristics: 1. Highly oligotrophic waters 2. High irradiance 3. Warm temperature 4. Very high species diversity 5. Habitat specialization/commensal and symbiotic relations 6. Adjacent community interaction 7. High rates of productivity 8. High rates of calcification 9. Dominated by turf and crustose algae, highly grazed 10. Variable percentage of coral coverage Coral Reefs = Deserts + Rainforests Organisms are specifically adapted to take advantage of low nutrient availability and high competition Individually, they would all take more food Together, if all had more food, the system would shift or collapse Environmental Averages and Extremes for Reef Sites (after Kleypas et al. 1999) Variable Minimum Maximum Average SD Temperature (oC) Average 21.0 29.5 27.6 1.1 Minimum 16.0 28.2 24.8 1.8 Maximum 24.7 34.4 30.2 0.6 Salinity (PSU) Minimum 23.3 40.0 34.3 1.2 Maximum 31.2 41.8 35.3 0.9 Nutrients (µmol L-1) NO3 0.00 3.34 0.25 0.28 PO4 0.00 0.54 0.13 0.08 Physico-chemical Environmental and Potentially Limiting Variables (after Kleypas, et al., 1999) Variable Reef Limits Time scale Temperature (oC) 18 annual minima Salinity (PSU) 25-42 continuous Light (µE m-2 s-1) 30-40% SSI (300-500PAR) limits reefs 10% SSI (100-180PAR) limits corals Nutrients (µmol l-1) NO3 0.5-3.0 PO4 0.1 - 2.0 Mangrove development While mangroves are often associated with coral reefs, they are extensive terrestrial and coastal elements most often influencing terrestrial runoff to reefs. This mangrove is several kilometers inland from the coast, and another several kilometers from any coral reef development at all. Mangrove habitat Seagrass Meadows Coral Reef Differences A healthy Indo-Pacific coral reef Note windward and leeward sides and the slope development on each. Lagoons Coastal and Fringing Reefs Offshore Reefs and Atolls: Acropora nobilis and A. pulchra Hydroids and Acropora palifera Many corals may be exposed at low tides Deepwater Sites Trachyphyllia geoffroyi A History of Reefkeeping Major Breakthroughs Water Quality Summary of Berlin and Berlin Hybrid Systems Note: because of the number of tanks, the time period Variable over which they were kept, improper record keeping over time, and variables that change over time, including variances between o Temperature ( F) systems, makes these water quality data only grossly accurate - mean 80 max/min 86/74 Salinity (ppt) Alkalinity (meq/l) mean 34 4.2 max/min 35/32 2.4/5.3 pH Ca++ mean 8.4 450 max/min 8.6/8.2 520/400 PO4 (ppm) NO2+NO3 (ppm) mean .20-.27 4-10 max/min .40-.80/<.05-.15 8-20/<2 - 6 note: nutrient levels are split. First number is for Berlin Hybrid (with sand), second for Berlin (no sand) Schematic of “typical” Berlin-style Aquarium set-up (Delbeek, Sprung 1994) 500 l Hybrid Berlin System, in operation 5 years (1996) 10 cm sand bed, with plenum 500 l Hybrid Berlin System, in operation 5 years (1996) 10 cm sand bed, with plenum 500 l Hybrid Berlin System, in operation 7 years (1998) 12 cm coarse sand bed, no plenum 500 l Hybrid Berlin System, in operation 9 years (2000) 12 cm coarse sand bed, no plenum Algae Turf Scrubbers and the Dynamic Aquaria Paradigm Principles: Many species of turf algae, grown on screens and lit in a separate area, are used for nutrient uptake and water quality control Dump buckets housing the algae screens provide non- traumatic natural water flow Deep oolitic aragonite sand beds are integral to the system set-up and provide buffering, trace elements, calcium, denitrification and habitat for flora and fauna Refugia are used as areas free of predation to culture plankton and plankton-like organisms Reverse daylight is used on the screens to maintain pH levels at night and stabilize and keep oxygen at saturation by keeping photosynthesis rates high compared to respiration Biodiversity is stressed in a balanced livestock population Live rock, strong lighting, and nutrient export by algae screen harvest are the basic tenets. Heavy feeding is possible because of the rapid uptake of N and P by algae, accumulation by harvestable biomass, and uptake in the form of ammonia before nitrate is even produced No protein skimming, additives, water changes, or supplemental pumps are required Number of ATS systems maintained: 4 Longest established: 3.5 years Schematic drawing of Smithsonian Caribbean microcosm (Adey, Loveland 1998) Scrubber lagoon Schematic Drawing of Smithsonian Caribbean Microcosm (Adey, Loveland 1998) Irradiance of Smithsonian Caribbean microcosm (Adey, Loveland 1998) Display Tank, 480 l ATS system, Inland Aquatics (1995) Refugium Deep sand bed (no plenum) 160 l ATS aquarium (1998) Note growth of Sinularia in 3 months Halymenia in refugium 2008 2008 The Jaubert Microcean Ecosystem and Variations Principles - Water filtration accomplished by the flora and fauna in a thick sediment layer sandwiched between the water column and a confined bottom water layer (plenum) - High O2 in the water column and low O2 in the plenum create an O2 gradient in the sand bed that provides for stratification of aerobic and denitrifying bacterial populations - Fauna in the “living”sand bed enhances the microbial breakdown process by mimicking natural processes of uptake, assimilation, and breakdown - The sand bed acts as a buffer, calcium source, and sink for various compounds - Sand beds are deep and mechanically separated in layers by screen to prevent burrowers from disturbing stratified and productive deep microbial communities. - Careful attention is given to establishment of pioneer and successional communities prior to predator introduction - diversity and accuracy is stressed. - Live rock, strong water flow, and strong lighting are used and introduces the concept of “live sand” - Protein skimming or other filters are not used ordinarily, and water element additions only if required by individual systems. Water changes are not done unless required. Number of Jaubert style aquariums maintained: 24 Longest established: 6.5 years Schematic drawing of Jaubert Microcean Ecosystem (Jaubert 1989) Reference: Jaubert, Jean. 1989. An integrated nitrifying-denitrifying biological system capable of purifying sea water in a closed circuit aquarium. Deuxiéme Congrés international d’Aquariologie (1988) Monaco. Bulletin de l’Institute Océanographique, Monaco, no spécial 5: 101-106. Live rock in a 160 l Jaubert aquarium, no additions (1994) Protopalythoa sp. Montipora sp. Porites sp. Zoanthus sp. hydroids 160 l Jaubert aquarium, established four years (1996) strong water motion Montipora digitata eventually formed a “microatoll” Hydnophora rigida Xenia sp. Favites sp Sea “biscuit” Acanthastrea sp. Parazoanthus sp. Final Variations - Improvements Over Time Linked habitats embody principles of all natural methodologies - Live rock, live sand, strong water motion and strong lighting are basic tenets - Refugium is incorporated - Deep denitrifying and functional sand beds are utilized - Reverse daylight principles and algae or plants (seagrasses) are utilized - No protein skimming or other filtration used to maximize the integrity of the water column - No water changes are done - Strong emphasis on producing or the input of live zooplankton and phytoplankton Differences: - No algae screens used - A surge device replaces most traumatic pumps - No plenum is used - No trace elements or other additions used. - A calcium reactor or calcium/carbon source is utilized (kalkwasser, bicarbonate, etc.) - Carbon is used to manage secondary metabolites produced by huge diversity of organisms Schematic of Multi-Linked Unskimmed Habitat This set-up maximizes niche habitats, increases biodiversity and spatial heterogeneity, minimizes maintenance, and is an accurate mimic of natural interrelated communities. refugium surge Seagrass area receives passive overflow from reef and acts as a settling area for detritus which mixed substrate feeds the grasses reef system Sea Grass System deep coarse sand substrate deep very fine sand substrate Reversereverse daylight daylight optional reverse daylight Intertidal sump no substrate, rock rubble, some exposed to air 1200 l main reef aquarium, unskimmed, multi-linked habitat (1998) 12-25 cm sand bed, No plenum 1200 l main reef aquarium, unskimmed, multi-linked habitat (1999) 1200 l main reef aquarium, unskimmed, multi-linked habitat (1999) Coral tips exposed to air during each surge 1200 l main reef aquarium, unskimmed, multi-linked habitat (1999) 2004 2004 2006 2006 300 l seagrass tank, multi-linked habitat, unskimmed (2000) Seagrasses present: Thallasia testudinum, Halodule wrightii, Syringodium filiforme Small “patch-reef” 12-18 cm very fine grain sand bed, no plenum, some carbonate muds 300 l seagrass tank, multi-linked habitat, unskimmed 1 month after “planting” note Penicillus and Avrainvillea, common to seagrass areas 300 l seagrass tank, multi-linked habitat, unskimmed Note lack of epiphytic growth on Thallasia blades. Shed blades are not removed from the system but are allowed to fall to bottom and decompose 300 l seagrass tank, multi-linked habitat, unskimmed Note natural positioning of Catalaphyllia jardinei in silty, lagoon-like setting 2006 2006 2007 2007 Quantitative Comparisons and Summary System temperature salinity pH calcium alkalinity NO3 PO4 O2 surf. light water (oC) (ppt) (mg/l) (meq/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (% sat.) (µEm2s-1) Coral reef 27.6 34.8 •8 .20 •420 2.2-2.4 .0155 .0124 •2000 Commerci 26.03 35.27 8.053 416 na <.04526 .0222 95.9 1900 11.277 al ATS Personal 28.9 34 8.10 420 3.52 <.50 <.05 •88 •600 .25 ATS Jaubert 8.24 520 Na .013 Personal 27.8 35 8.38 460 4.2 .097 .0480 •93 .0 •900 .05 Jaubert Linked 28.9 35.5 8.20 435 3.4 .074 .026 •98 .0 •1650 .25 habitat Personal 26.7 34 8.40 450 4.2 4-10 .20-.27 na •1000 .10 Berlin Supplements/Additive based methods “Miracle” Muds Probiotics Zeovit Things I Know 1.