Cultured Coral Could Help Repair Damaged Reefs

[Melody]

Cultured Coral Could Help Repair Damaged Reefs (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070315171139.htm)


I'll be anxious to hear the outcome of this one. How awesome would it be to be able to 'release' cultured coral? Many hobbyists could even help with that.

From the article:

“If you grow coral in a greenhouse in a land-based system and put it in the wild, will it survive?” Watson said. “There are those who say no, because it won’t be acclimated to those conditions where it grew and it can’t survive elsewhere. We don’t believe that, we are setting out to prove that wrong.”

Researchers and the marine sanctuary staff hope to create a network of nonprofit organizations, businesses and individuals to raise coral and contribute specimens to repair damage from events such as vessel groundings and anchorings, said Lauri MacLaughlin, a resource manager with the marine sanctuary. ~ Science Daily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/)

Please click title for full article.

[Melody]

I really don't know much about corals, which this question will probably make very clear...lol. Why is it not feasible to acclimate corals? Don't people acclimate them all the time in captivity?

I understand that doing so in the wild could present unique challenges, but I don't see why it is such a precarious goal.

Why could they not simulate the intended environment even? With today's technology, that can't be too difficult. They could even use water from the intended location if it is important to do so.

Ultimately, I would like to see a way that hobbyists could help this type of project. Even the experiences of reefkeepers would prove valuable, I should think. Who knows more about acclimating and babying corals until they're thriving in their new environment, than the people who have been nurturing reef tanks for years?:yes:

[Osprey]

As much as we try to emulate the natural ocean, our tanks fall pitifully short of what it's really like. There are some areas of the reef it's impossible to even visit, because the currents are so strong even boats specifically designed for navigating riptides can't maintain a position-any human divers would be dashed to death against the corals.
Even areas that are commonly visited have much stronger currents and turbulence than we are able to produce in captivity, along with much greater biodiversity. Often they have brighter sunlight, too.

Acclimating corals that were bred in captivity to a similar captive system is a complicated process. If the light in the new tank is too strong, it will shock the coral and bleach it (for this reason, all new arrivals are placed in a relatively dim spot, then gradually moved to a brighter, more permanent locale), if it's too dim, the coral will likewise take a long time to recover. Certain types of corals have a reputation for being 'hit and miss': they'll thrive and reproduce in some systems, and rapidly die in others, even when the two systems appear almost identical. Corals are still a great mystery, in many ways.

The usual reasons for not introducing aquatic life back into the wild (even when they are native to the area) apply as well... corals are subject to many diseases and parasites. By re-introducing a captive-propagated coral back into the wild, we could inadvertantly cause an epidemic in the reef system.

The great benefit to aquacultured corals is that they prevent further harvesting from the reefs. And that is something to cheer about. Every new species that can be successfully reproduced in captivity is good news.

[Melody]

That clarifies things more, thanks. I guess hobbyist involvement would be out then, in view of parasites & disease. :no: I hadn't thought of that.