Project description
This project is about one thing, Coral. In this project we are focused on trying to help conserve the coral because currently it is not doing to well. Coral lately has been greatly affected by different kinds of enviromental stressors and have been slowly harming coral more and more across the world. In this project we are maintaining coral in their own personal tanks that we put together. While they are living in the tank we are testing different enviromental stressors to better understand the affects of the different stressors on the different parts of the coral. We have been maintaining this project with the help of PhD Candidate, Aaron Hartmann. Aaron studies at SDSU and works at the Scripps Ecology Lab. The whole point of this project is to help understand coral better as well as, help inform people who most likely don't know about this coral crisis.
Feeding Medium: How does feeding affect algae and coral growth?
Authors: Kevin Belew, Mariah Parvizi, Jason Cuevas, and Adrian Noordyk
Abstract
We are hoping to find the ‘perfect’ amount of brine shrimp to feed our species of coral for optimal algae and coral growth. With coral bleaching events increasing around the world, understanding coral’s symbiotic relationship with algae is becoming increasingly important. The objective of this experiment is to come to a conclusion on whether algae and/or coral grow faster when given supplemental feedings and if so, how the amount of growth in the coral and algae correspond with the amount of brine shrimp fed. We are interested to see if more feedings will result in faster growth, or whether they can rely on their photosynthesizing zooxanthellae and the minimal amount of food. We also wonder whether the significant amount of feeding that we will be providing will result in a build up of the coral. Also, whether the effects may outweigh any benefit to the coral. This will be tested by dividing coral into three groups, each in a controlled environment and feeding them at different amounts for a one month period. We will be monitoring, and observing each coral with algae and comparing growth rates.
I. INTRODUCTION
Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. Coral ecosystems are a source of food for millions, “[...] protect coastlines from storms, provide habitat, spawning and nursery grounds for economically important fish species; provide jobs and income to local economies from fishing, recreation, and tourism; are a source of new medicines, and are hotspots of marine biodiversity” (NOAA, 2012).We know that we will be experimenting with one of the three types of corals; Pocillopora damicornis, Acropora yongei, or Agaricia humilis. For each feeding experiment there will be a low, medium, high, and control tank, that will all be observed and compared, for example my group is the Feeding Medium group. #
There is little evidence to support the need for feeding of corals. Many coral will survive in aquariums without supplemental feeding, but comparisons in growth rates are unknown. We have heard that the feedings may deteriorate water quality. In fact, it has been shown to reduce calcification and result in poor health of specimens (Delbeek & Sprung, 1994). Numerous symbiotic coral species are able to take up dissolved organic matter (DOM), mainly in the form of carbohydrates, dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) and urea, even when DOM is in nanomolar concentrations (Houlbre`que & Ferrier-Page, 2009). However, even without large feedings, growth rates of corals in a tank should meet or exceed those in the wild due to the fact that it will be in a controlled environment with little to no threats.
Zooxanthellae
Most corals house a photosynthetic type of algae in their tissues called zooxanthellae. This forms a mutualistic symbiotic relationship between the zooxanthellae algae and coral, allowing corals to survive in tropical waters (Sheppard et al., 2009). The algae exchanges oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, and energy rich-products (carbohydrates and fats), while corals provide a safe protective home environment. Zooxanthellae also benefit from the dissolved nutrients (mainly nitrate and phosphate) that the polyp absorbs, and ammonia from the corals metabolism. This symbiotic relationship is a building block of the entire coral ecosystem. Stephens (1960) measured the removal of 14 Clabelled D-glucose from solution in seawater by the coral Fungia sp. He showed that this species was capable of removing glucose from solution even at low concentrations and suggested that by utilizing naturally occurring carbohydrates in seawater, some coral species could obtain sufficient material to meet maintenance requirements in selected locations. Similarly, symbiotic corals have developed adaptations to take up the ammonium or urea by-products of animal metabolism, suggesting a co-evolution process between host and symbionts (Furla et al., 2005; Houlbre`que & Ferrier-Page, 2009).
Bleaching Events
Under extreme stress, corals act out by expelling all of their symbiotic zooxanthellae in a process known as bleaching. The severity of mass bleaching events are increasing primarily as a result of global increases in sea surface temperatures. Bleaching events of 1998 effectively destroyed 16% of the world’s reefs, with most damage occurring throughout the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans (Wilkinson et al. 1999; Wi#lkinson 2000). Bleached corals appear white, because their tissues have lost their colored zooxanthellae and normal pigment, leaving the coral's skeleton visible through the tissue. If stress continues corals may bleach as a last resort to survive, but this ends up leaving the coral to get all of it’s required energy through feeding which is less dependable. Human activities have been the primary threat to coral reefs. Mass bleaching can be triggered by things such as pollution runoff, overfishing, global stressors of increased ocean temperature and acidity. The most commonly known cause of bleaching is increased temperature, but many factors may lead to mass bleaching events such as; fluctuation of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, phosphate, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, calcium, alkalinity, light, food avail, salinity, or a bacteria infection. It is important for corals to live in a balanced environment to survive and thrive.
II. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE
The coral ecosystems around the world are home to countless organisms, and with increasing threats and coral bleaching events there is a need to understand coral and #their relationships. We want to come to a conclusion on whether coral grow faster with feeding and if so, does more feeding result in more growth? Overall we believe that the coral will eat what it wants at a steady pace, which will not be all of the food we will be providing. We think that there will be an overload of excess food which will result in bacteria, affecting the water quality, which will affect the coral. Although in regards to the other groups and coral and algae health wise, we believe that the coral and algae will be significantly healthier and also larger in comparison. Also, because we will be shading over a portion of the tank there is a slight chance that the coral will notice the lack of energy being received from the algae, and might expel it, which would result in the coral bleaching. Our hypothesis is that the Feeding Low group will be feeding the corals the optimal amount resulting in most growth. We do think that we will come to a conclusion on what the ideal amount of feeding is for coral by observing all of the feeding tanks, but we do not think it will be Feeding Medium.
III. METHODS AND MATERIALS
Materials
~ Separate 10 gallon tank, sump, and tank stand for each experiment group and control, set up the same way.
~ Tank- 10 gallons of water, 3 pounds of salt........
~ Sump- 5 gallon bucket, 3 gallons of water, bio balls, live rock, filter........
~ Tank Stand- 18 feet of angle iron steel, bolts...........
~ Lights- two 4 foot long lights and reflectors
~ Brine Shrimp- for feeding the coral
~ Coral
~ Air Pump
~ Water Pump
~ Tubing- for air and for water to get from sump to tank and opposite
~ Bulkhead Fitting
Methods
The rack to hold the tank was the first thing that needed to be created. We began with paper and a pencil, and the measurements of what the bought tanks are going to be. We were going to make the rack out of angle iron so once we had the blueprints of the rack made, we were given the angle iron in 20 ft. sections, which we then proceeded to cut into the sizes we needed. Once we had all of the pieces cut and the sharp edges grinded they were ready to be welded together into place. We started welding the frame, which is where the tank will be sitting 36 in. above the ground. Those 4 pieces in the frame measured out to be 2, 24 in. and 2, 11.25 in pieces. Once those were welded and we had a rectangular frame we had to weld the 36 inch legs on the corners. Then we grinded the excess weld pieces off of the rack and painted it brown. We then purchased a 10 gallon aquarium tank and began adding the essential seawater tank tools. These were the: bulkhead fitting to bring the water from the tank to the sump; tubing, to connect the bulkhead fitting to the sump; air filter, to filter air that will be put in the tank to aerate the water; small tubing to connect the air filter to the water; a water heater, to keep the water at just the right level; 3 pounds of salt to the ten gallons of water, for the right salinity level; the sump, which is basically a bucket posing as a second tank to filter the water through and cycle back into the tank; a filter in the sump; bioballs in the sump, they have living bacteria in them to eat the unwanted particles; live rock which is also covered in bacteria to eat the unwanted things, it also gives the coral different nutrients to help them grow; a water pump in the sump to pump the water through the cycle between the sump and tank. Once the tank is all ready to begin testing, we will be performing different tests of the different things stated above in section I c. We will be giving the coral a certain amount of brine shrimp which is more than the control groups and Feeding Low group, and less than the Feeding High group. We will be putting shade over a certain portion of the tank and that will slow down the photosynthesis process.Every two weeks we will be pulling the coral out (while remaining in water) and weighing to discover the growth in mass. Also every two weeks, we will be cutting off a small portion of the coral, and taking it under a microscope in order to count how many algae have grown in the coral. We are going to monitor how much the coral actually eats, in regards to the amount of brine shrimp. We will observe the edge of each coral fragment. If we see any bleaching, then it gets a score of -1 point. If the algae and coral are divided it gets a 0 and if the coral is overtaking the algae it gets 1 point. We will get a piece of aluminum foil which will be weighed and recorded. We will then scrape all of the algae out from around the coral and dry it and put it on the foil to weigh it after being completely dried in a drying oven. We will then subtract the weight of the foil from the algae weight. We will photograph the coral from the same place at the same time each day. This will show us the coloration changes of the coral. To test the mass of the coral, we will scoop a portion out with a cup with water, so that they don't ever leave water. Then we will submerge them in an underwater scale on a sling.
IV. LITERATURE CITED
How Corals Feed:
WIJGERDE, T., M.SC, F. HOULBRÈQUE, PH.D, and C. FERRIER-PAGÈS, PH.D. "Zooplankton Feeding by Corals Underestimated." How Corals Feed. Coralscience.org, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.
Interactions between zooplankton feeding, photosynthesis and skeletal growth in the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata:Allemand, Denis, Et Al. "The Journal of Experimental Biology." Interactions between Zooplankton Feeding, Photosynthesis and Skeletal Growth in the Scleractinian Coral Stylophora Pistillata. The Journal of Experimental Biology, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.
CORAL REEFS’ SYMBIOSIS WITH ZOOXANTHELLAE, BENEFITS AND RISKS:
http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic653142.files/envr140_termpaper6_coral_reef_bleaching.pdf
Value of coral ecosystems:
http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/values/
Algal growth Forms:
http://userwww.sfsu.edu/biol240/labs/lab_09algae/pages/algalforms.html
Corals and Coral Reefs:
Knowlton, Nancy, and Christian Ziegler, Et Al. "Corals and Coral Reefs." Ocean Portal by The Smithsonian Institution. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. <http://ocean.si.edu/corals-and-coral-reefs%20>.
Abstract
We are hoping to find the ‘perfect’ amount of brine shrimp to feed our species of coral for optimal algae and coral growth. With coral bleaching events increasing around the world, understanding coral’s symbiotic relationship with algae is becoming increasingly important. The objective of this experiment is to come to a conclusion on whether algae and/or coral grow faster when given supplemental feedings and if so, how the amount of growth in the coral and algae correspond with the amount of brine shrimp fed. We are interested to see if more feedings will result in faster growth, or whether they can rely on their photosynthesizing zooxanthellae and the minimal amount of food. We also wonder whether the significant amount of feeding that we will be providing will result in a build up of the coral. Also, whether the effects may outweigh any benefit to the coral. This will be tested by dividing coral into three groups, each in a controlled environment and feeding them at different amounts for a one month period. We will be monitoring, and observing each coral with algae and comparing growth rates.
I. INTRODUCTION
Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. Coral ecosystems are a source of food for millions, “[...] protect coastlines from storms, provide habitat, spawning and nursery grounds for economically important fish species; provide jobs and income to local economies from fishing, recreation, and tourism; are a source of new medicines, and are hotspots of marine biodiversity” (NOAA, 2012).We know that we will be experimenting with one of the three types of corals; Pocillopora damicornis, Acropora yongei, or Agaricia humilis. For each feeding experiment there will be a low, medium, high, and control tank, that will all be observed and compared, for example my group is the Feeding Medium group. #
There is little evidence to support the need for feeding of corals. Many coral will survive in aquariums without supplemental feeding, but comparisons in growth rates are unknown. We have heard that the feedings may deteriorate water quality. In fact, it has been shown to reduce calcification and result in poor health of specimens (Delbeek & Sprung, 1994). Numerous symbiotic coral species are able to take up dissolved organic matter (DOM), mainly in the form of carbohydrates, dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) and urea, even when DOM is in nanomolar concentrations (Houlbre`que & Ferrier-Page, 2009). However, even without large feedings, growth rates of corals in a tank should meet or exceed those in the wild due to the fact that it will be in a controlled environment with little to no threats.
Zooxanthellae
Most corals house a photosynthetic type of algae in their tissues called zooxanthellae. This forms a mutualistic symbiotic relationship between the zooxanthellae algae and coral, allowing corals to survive in tropical waters (Sheppard et al., 2009). The algae exchanges oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, and energy rich-products (carbohydrates and fats), while corals provide a safe protective home environment. Zooxanthellae also benefit from the dissolved nutrients (mainly nitrate and phosphate) that the polyp absorbs, and ammonia from the corals metabolism. This symbiotic relationship is a building block of the entire coral ecosystem. Stephens (1960) measured the removal of 14 Clabelled D-glucose from solution in seawater by the coral Fungia sp. He showed that this species was capable of removing glucose from solution even at low concentrations and suggested that by utilizing naturally occurring carbohydrates in seawater, some coral species could obtain sufficient material to meet maintenance requirements in selected locations. Similarly, symbiotic corals have developed adaptations to take up the ammonium or urea by-products of animal metabolism, suggesting a co-evolution process between host and symbionts (Furla et al., 2005; Houlbre`que & Ferrier-Page, 2009).
Bleaching Events
Under extreme stress, corals act out by expelling all of their symbiotic zooxanthellae in a process known as bleaching. The severity of mass bleaching events are increasing primarily as a result of global increases in sea surface temperatures. Bleaching events of 1998 effectively destroyed 16% of the world’s reefs, with most damage occurring throughout the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans (Wilkinson et al. 1999; Wi#lkinson 2000). Bleached corals appear white, because their tissues have lost their colored zooxanthellae and normal pigment, leaving the coral's skeleton visible through the tissue. If stress continues corals may bleach as a last resort to survive, but this ends up leaving the coral to get all of it’s required energy through feeding which is less dependable. Human activities have been the primary threat to coral reefs. Mass bleaching can be triggered by things such as pollution runoff, overfishing, global stressors of increased ocean temperature and acidity. The most commonly known cause of bleaching is increased temperature, but many factors may lead to mass bleaching events such as; fluctuation of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, phosphate, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, calcium, alkalinity, light, food avail, salinity, or a bacteria infection. It is important for corals to live in a balanced environment to survive and thrive.
II. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE
The coral ecosystems around the world are home to countless organisms, and with increasing threats and coral bleaching events there is a need to understand coral and #their relationships. We want to come to a conclusion on whether coral grow faster with feeding and if so, does more feeding result in more growth? Overall we believe that the coral will eat what it wants at a steady pace, which will not be all of the food we will be providing. We think that there will be an overload of excess food which will result in bacteria, affecting the water quality, which will affect the coral. Although in regards to the other groups and coral and algae health wise, we believe that the coral and algae will be significantly healthier and also larger in comparison. Also, because we will be shading over a portion of the tank there is a slight chance that the coral will notice the lack of energy being received from the algae, and might expel it, which would result in the coral bleaching. Our hypothesis is that the Feeding Low group will be feeding the corals the optimal amount resulting in most growth. We do think that we will come to a conclusion on what the ideal amount of feeding is for coral by observing all of the feeding tanks, but we do not think it will be Feeding Medium.
III. METHODS AND MATERIALS
Materials
~ Separate 10 gallon tank, sump, and tank stand for each experiment group and control, set up the same way.
~ Tank- 10 gallons of water, 3 pounds of salt........
~ Sump- 5 gallon bucket, 3 gallons of water, bio balls, live rock, filter........
~ Tank Stand- 18 feet of angle iron steel, bolts...........
~ Lights- two 4 foot long lights and reflectors
~ Brine Shrimp- for feeding the coral
~ Coral
~ Air Pump
~ Water Pump
~ Tubing- for air and for water to get from sump to tank and opposite
~ Bulkhead Fitting
Methods
The rack to hold the tank was the first thing that needed to be created. We began with paper and a pencil, and the measurements of what the bought tanks are going to be. We were going to make the rack out of angle iron so once we had the blueprints of the rack made, we were given the angle iron in 20 ft. sections, which we then proceeded to cut into the sizes we needed. Once we had all of the pieces cut and the sharp edges grinded they were ready to be welded together into place. We started welding the frame, which is where the tank will be sitting 36 in. above the ground. Those 4 pieces in the frame measured out to be 2, 24 in. and 2, 11.25 in pieces. Once those were welded and we had a rectangular frame we had to weld the 36 inch legs on the corners. Then we grinded the excess weld pieces off of the rack and painted it brown. We then purchased a 10 gallon aquarium tank and began adding the essential seawater tank tools. These were the: bulkhead fitting to bring the water from the tank to the sump; tubing, to connect the bulkhead fitting to the sump; air filter, to filter air that will be put in the tank to aerate the water; small tubing to connect the air filter to the water; a water heater, to keep the water at just the right level; 3 pounds of salt to the ten gallons of water, for the right salinity level; the sump, which is basically a bucket posing as a second tank to filter the water through and cycle back into the tank; a filter in the sump; bioballs in the sump, they have living bacteria in them to eat the unwanted particles; live rock which is also covered in bacteria to eat the unwanted things, it also gives the coral different nutrients to help them grow; a water pump in the sump to pump the water through the cycle between the sump and tank. Once the tank is all ready to begin testing, we will be performing different tests of the different things stated above in section I c. We will be giving the coral a certain amount of brine shrimp which is more than the control groups and Feeding Low group, and less than the Feeding High group. We will be putting shade over a certain portion of the tank and that will slow down the photosynthesis process.Every two weeks we will be pulling the coral out (while remaining in water) and weighing to discover the growth in mass. Also every two weeks, we will be cutting off a small portion of the coral, and taking it under a microscope in order to count how many algae have grown in the coral. We are going to monitor how much the coral actually eats, in regards to the amount of brine shrimp. We will observe the edge of each coral fragment. If we see any bleaching, then it gets a score of -1 point. If the algae and coral are divided it gets a 0 and if the coral is overtaking the algae it gets 1 point. We will get a piece of aluminum foil which will be weighed and recorded. We will then scrape all of the algae out from around the coral and dry it and put it on the foil to weigh it after being completely dried in a drying oven. We will then subtract the weight of the foil from the algae weight. We will photograph the coral from the same place at the same time each day. This will show us the coloration changes of the coral. To test the mass of the coral, we will scoop a portion out with a cup with water, so that they don't ever leave water. Then we will submerge them in an underwater scale on a sling.
IV. LITERATURE CITED
How Corals Feed:
WIJGERDE, T., M.SC, F. HOULBRÈQUE, PH.D, and C. FERRIER-PAGÈS, PH.D. "Zooplankton Feeding by Corals Underestimated." How Corals Feed. Coralscience.org, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.
Interactions between zooplankton feeding, photosynthesis and skeletal growth in the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata:Allemand, Denis, Et Al. "The Journal of Experimental Biology." Interactions between Zooplankton Feeding, Photosynthesis and Skeletal Growth in the Scleractinian Coral Stylophora Pistillata. The Journal of Experimental Biology, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.
CORAL REEFS’ SYMBIOSIS WITH ZOOXANTHELLAE, BENEFITS AND RISKS:
http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic653142.files/envr140_termpaper6_coral_reef_bleaching.pdf
Value of coral ecosystems:
http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/values/
Algal growth Forms:
http://userwww.sfsu.edu/biol240/labs/lab_09algae/pages/algalforms.html
Corals and Coral Reefs:
Knowlton, Nancy, and Christian Ziegler, Et Al. "Corals and Coral Reefs." Ocean Portal by The Smithsonian Institution. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. <http://ocean.si.edu/corals-and-coral-reefs%20>.
Video
Reef biodiversity PRESENTATION
Website
Post Card Group
I was in the post card group which was basically a group that created the post cards, for the project. These acted as sort of a petition which will be given to the parliament of Curacao. We had people sign them to show Curacao the problems that Large Development on the island would have.
Reflection
This project was filled with all kinds of projects that I had to complete. I created the post card you see above, and I also created the research paper for our group. I am most proud of the post cards that I made and then got signed because I feel like I really made a huge difference to coral in Curacao. What I remember most from the project, is when I was doing my groups activity, which was to make polyps out of an assortment of candy, and there were little kids I was teaching it to. And I really had to change my way of explaining it so that the kids would understand it. Afterwards the mother that had been watching, complimented me on my skills with children. I really learned a lot about how to talk to kids more about educational things.