Katie Webster

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Phylum Cnidaria
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Colonial growth
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Foundation species

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Commercial
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Conservation
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Research

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Sold as ornamental organisms for aquariums
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Prices vary based upon coral species, color pattern, and colony size
◦ More colorful is more expensive
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Corals are cultured and sold around the world
◦ US is main purchaser
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High shipping costs

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Zooxanthellae symbiosis
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Calcium carbonate skeleton
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Reef builders

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Flexible
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Lacy appearance
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Proteinaceous skeletons

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Stony corals – Order Scleractinia
◦ Family Acroporidae -SPS
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Montipora spp.
◦ Family Dendrophylliidae - LPS
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Turbinaria peltata
Dendrophyllia fistula
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Soft corals – Order Alcyonacea
◦ Family Alcyoniidae
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Sarcophyton spp.
Sinularia spp.

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Purple Montipora capricornis
Supernatural Montipora capricornis

Green Pagoda Coral
Red Sun Coral

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Green Toadstool
Leather
Long Polyping Leather

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Blue Devils Finger
Leather
Yellow Fiji Finger
Leather

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Budding
◦ Colonial growth
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Fragmentation
◦ Colony physically broken into separate sections
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Spawning
◦ Free swimming larvae
◦ Adult sessile polyps
◦ Hermaphroditic and non-hermaphroditic types
Asexual Sexual

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Asexual growth
“fragging”
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Development from zygotes
◦ “spat stocking”

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Indoor tanks – Intensive
◦ RAS filtration system
◦ Zooxanthellae very sensitive
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Floating nurseries – Extensive to Semi-intensive
◦ Shallow water
◦ Reef building

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◦ Bright light
◦ Temperature: 78°F to 84°F
◦ Salinity : 1.026 s.g.
◦ Calcium: 390 to 450 ppm
◦ pH: 7.9 to 8.3
◦ Alkalinity: 140 to 180 ppm

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Zooxanthellae provide energy
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Dissolved organic matter
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Plankton and small organisms

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Fast growing
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Minimum feeding
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Easy to aquaculture
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Conservation efforts

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Harmful to humans
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Expensive
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Predation and disease