On long-term maintenance and cultivation of hermatypic corals under artificial conditions Item Type Journal Contribution Authors Titlyanov, E. A.; Vo, Si Tuan; Titlyanova, E. A. Download date 30/09/2021 10:24:04 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/9269 Collection of Marine Research Works, 2002, XII: 215-232 ON LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE AND CULTIVATION OF HERMATYPIC CORALS UNDER ARTIFICIAL CONDITIONS E.A. Titlyanov1, Vo Si Tuan2, T.V. Titlyanova1 1Institute of Marine Biology, Far East Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences 2Institute of Oceanography (Nha Trang) ABSTRACT Long term maintenance and cultivation of hermatypic corals have been newly practiced in the world for different purposes. Based on published researches and the experiences from studies and experiments, the papers introduced principles and methodic approaches to long-term maintenance and cultivation of corals under artificial conditions. Methods and aquaria structures for long- term maintenance and cultivation of corals are suggested. Results of experiments on study of physiological state of corals under change of environmental factors such as light intensity, ammonium concentration and food additions with zooplankton under continuous maintenance and cultivation in aquaria are also presented. VEÀ VIEÄC NUOÂI GIÖÕ SAN HOÂ TAÏO RAÏN TRONG MOÂI TRÖÔØNG NHAÂN TAÏO E. A. Titlyanov1, Voõ Só Tuaán2, T. V. Titlyanova1 1Vieän Sinh Hoïc Bieån, Chi Nhaùnh Vieãn Ñoâng Vieän Haøn Laâm Khoa Hoïc Nga 2 Vieän Haûi Döông Hoïc (Nha Trang) TOÙM TAÉT Nuoâi giöõ san hoâ trong ñieàu kieän nhaân taïo laø moät lónh vöïc coøn töông ñoái môùi meû treân theá giôùi vaø ñaõ ñöôïc tieán haønh theo caùc muïc ñích khaùc nhau nhö nghieân cöùu khoa hoïc, taïo taäp ñoaøn treû cho phuïc hoài heä sinh thaùi, phuïc vuï cho caùc aquarium, cung caáp san hoâ cho thöông maïi san hoâ soáng vaø baûo toàn ña daïng sinh hoïc. Döïa treân caùc taøi lieäu ñaõ coâng boá treân theá giôùi vaø nhöõng kinh nghieäm coù ñöôïc qua nghieân cöùu vaø thöû nghieäm, baøi baùo moâ taû nhöõng nguyeân taéc lieân quan ñeán tính töï nhieân, choïn loaøi nuoâi giöõ, kieåm soaùt ñieàu kieän moâi tröôøng vaø caùc phöông phaùp tieáp caän trong kyõ thuaät nuoâi giöõ. Ñoøi hoûi veà caùc nhaân toá moâi tröôøng trong ñieàu kieän nhaân taïo nhö aùnh saùng, nhieät ñoä, ñoä muoái, muoái dinh döôõng, löôïng traàm tích, cung caáp khí, thöùc aên cho san hoâ, neàn ñaùy vaø veà löïa choïn kích thöôùc san hoâ nuoâi giöõ cuõng ñöôïc thaûo luaän I. INTRODUCTION world and especially in public aquaria, oceanaria and private aquaria (e.g. Attempts of long-term main- Stepanov, 1994; Carlson, 1999; Becker tenance and cultivation of corals under and Mueller, 2001; Titlyanov et al., artificial conditions have been 2001a). However, maintenance of corals undertaken in many laboratories of the under artificial conditions often led to a 215 gradual dying of polyps and thereafter the process needs constant factors and to death of entire colony due to known controlling changes in aquaria under and unknown reasons. Growth and the continuous maintenance. The same viability of corals under the entire problems arise in experiments on re- artificial conditions are species-specific. acclimation of corals to changed Some coral species easily withstand seawater temperature, on the study of transfer from natural to artificial coral growth, reproduction and etc. conditions and acclimate to new Thus, scientific experiment is one of conditions (e.g. fragments of the the main aims of continuous hermatypic coral Stylophora pistillata) maintenance under artificial conditions. (Titlyanov et al., 2000a, 2001a, b, c). For this aim we need installations with Others do not adapt to such changes many changed and controlled and die. The investigators have parameters, especially such as quantity different methods of maintenance and and spectral composition of light, cultivation of corals. Based on temperature, the rates of exchange and worldwide publications and personal seawater flow, concentration of mineral experiences, we herein provide an nutrition, animal food and mineral overview on the issues concerning with sediments in the water. Installation of maintenance and cultivation of corals such aquaria is the most complicate in artificial conditions. task. However, hobbyists and some scientists have persevered and II. RESULTS developed aquarium systems and techniques capable of maintaining 1. Purposes of continuous corals in apparently healthy and maintenance and cultivation of controlled conditions for many years corals under artificial conditions (Stepanov, 1994; Atkinson et al., 1995; Aim 1: Cultivation of corals for Carlson, 1999). scientific investigations: Aim 2: Cultivation of planting stock of Study of productional capacities, young colonies for rehabilitation of reproduction and other physiological coral reef: indicators of some coral species and Catastrophic reduction in live their assemblages were traditionally coral coverage in coastal and barrier conducted under field conditions (e.g. reefs, and biodiversity of coral reefs Falkowski and Dubinsky, 1981; worldwide occurred during the last 20 Titlyanov et al., 1981; Hoegh-Guldberg years (ICLARM, 2000). Local changes et al., 1997) or under laboratory depend mainly on anthropogenic action conditions in short-term experiments on coral reef (Connell, 1997). Human on colony fragments taken from reefs impacts composed of sediment stress (e.g. Leletkin et al., 1996; Nakano et due to construction of ports and other al., 1997). However, not all structures, deforestation, agriculture, physiological questions may be discharge of toxic pollutants, damage understood. For example, reacclimation from grounding and ship removal of corals from one light regime to other activities, underwater explosions, takes some months (Titlyanov et al., overfishing, eutrophication, use of 2001c, d) and the study on dynamics of corals for lime, damage of reef 216 community by anchors and by the sites of damaged reef is difficult and vessels hulls, sampling corals and depends on many circumstances. In mollusks for souvenirs and etc. nature, survival, attachment and (Counell, 1997; ICLARM, 2000; continuous growth of coral fragments Bruckner and Bruckner, 2001). are limited by the substrate type where Negative changes on coral reefs occur dislodged fragments land (Fong and by global warming causing bleaching Lirman, 1995; Bruckner and Bruckner, and death of corals and also by 2001). Fragments deposited in sand are hurricanes causing extensive damage to at risk of being abraded or smothered the reefs (Ware, 1997; ICLARM, 2001). and have no solid substrate for Coral farming for reef rehabilitation attachment. The timely, stabilization of and ecotourism development could fragments to the substrate could model the way for a new approach to enhance coral survivorship and serve the people and the reefs (Heeger expedite the recovery process. Under and Sotto, 2000). Rehabilitation is a different methods of fragments fixation relatively new science that soon may to the substrate (stainless steel wire, need to be applied on a larger scale to portland cement or two-part marine mitigate effects of local damage on epoxy) successful coral fusion to the coral reefs (Precht, 1998). substrate is from 10 to 40% (Lirman Current research is focusing on and Fong, 1997a, b; Bruckner & methods to enhance coral recruitment Bruckner, 2001). In nature, fragmented to maintain coral nurseries to rescue corals at damaged reef sites are and rehabilitate fragments generated affected by partial colony mortality due by physical disturbances for use as to various factors. Lirman and Fong transplantants for degraded areas (1997a, b) observed tissue loss in many (Tunnicliffe, 1981; Bruckner and (73%) of their tagged fragments. Bruckner, 2001). Recently, there are Bruckner and Bruckner (2001) observed three main trends in restoration of tissue loss in surviving fragments of coral reefs. Acropora palmata on approximately The first trend in restoration of half of their upper branch surfaces coral reefs is carried out by stabilizing after 2 years. This investigation fragments of resident coral colonies showed a higher rate of mortality directly at the sites of damage among those fragments placed in (Gittings et al., 1994; Backer and contact with the invasive sponge Mueller 1999; Jaap, 1999; Quirolo, Cliona spp. that was found commonly 1999; Bruckner and Bruckner, 2001). overgrowing elkhorn skeletons. Chronic Such works are more often conducted at partial mortality from natural stressors sites where the coral reef was partially like white-band disease (WBD), damaged by such events as dynamite predation, overgrowth by algae and blasting, hurricanes, and ship other factors may be largely groundings, anchoring. In this case, responsible for the inability of enormous numbers of fragments are fragments to successfully fuse to their generated without permanently attachment sites that, unfortunately, altering water quality. However, coral led to detachment of fragments from recruits, supplying recruits or the substrate and led to the coral’s fragmentation of donor colonies in the death (Bruckner and Bruckner, 2001). 217 The second trend for coral reef colonies to degraded reefs (Atkinson et restoration is transplantation of al., 1995; Titlyanov et al., 2001a). fragmented donor colonies from Moreover, the experiment on healthy reef sites to degraded reef sites elucidation of influence of new (Birkeland, 1977; Gittings et al., 1988; (changed) surrounding conditions on Clark and Edwards, 1995; Raymundo,