Proposal
edited
Rogan Wright
Buck Rollins
I. Introduction:
Classification: Xenia
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:…
Rogan Wright
Buck Rollins
I. Introduction:
Classification: Xenia
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Alcyonacae
Family: Xeniidae
Genus: Xenia
Species: elongata
Classification: Nephthea
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Alcyonacae
Family: Nephteidae
Genus: Nephthea
Species: unknown
Xenia are incredibly fast growing corals that survive best with high quality water flow and strong lighting. Xenia elongata is an example of a pulsing coral. The polyps open and close in a systematic fashion every second, causing a beautiful and tranquil display much like watching flower growth in time lapse. Xenia colonies can double in size under healthy conditions, making it necessary to trim them regularly (Augsburg). Xenia acquire most of their energy from the products of photosynthesis by their symbiodinium which are symbiotic dinoflagellate algae that live inside their tissues. They are not thought to feed on particulate foods, though they can absorb dissolved organic compounds found in water. The soft bodies of Xenia elongata seem to be extremely vulnerable to attack from predators, however, soft corals such as Xenia produce a variety of toxic compounds, one of which being diterpenes (Augsburg). This gives Xenia its signature "odor" which is on the acrid side. Xenia's primary predator is the nudbranch, more commonly referred to as sea snails. They specialize in eating soft corals such a Xenia, and are resistant to the toxins Xenia disperses.
Nephthea sp. is also known as the Cauliflower, Broccoli, or Branch Coral due to its’ distinct shrub-like image. Nephthea is a hardy soft coral that conquers like wild-fire and can survive under a large array of circumstances. It has been shown that these soft corals release toxins that may damage more sensitive stony corals (Tidal Gardens). This by no means excludes the possibility of a mixed reef, but it is important to know that a reef full of Nephthea may retract from the full growth rate of some harder corals around it. Nephthea relies on direct intake of nutrients from surrounding water and photosynthesis to stay alive. Nephthea will occasionally retract its polyps and form a waxy film (Tidal Gardens). This shrunken state may last a couple weeks before the film is shed and the polyps return to their normal state. Nephthea growth is best in between high and low ocean depth on sloped surfaces.
Coral propagation is the intentional action on a coral to produce a clone from a parent colony or clone so that it can be sold or used in an aquarium. Success or failure is often a product of choosing the best method for the species of coral you are propagating (Theisen). Corals may be propagated in many different ways including, passive, severing, constricting, and bottom-rubble techniques. Each technique is beneficial to different types of corals depending on whether the coral is soft or hard. However, because Xenia elongata and Nephthea sp. are soft corals, passive, rubble-bottom, and severing techniques should be most effective. Although Coral propagation is a simply task, it is not easy, and propagated corals must be kept in a healthy environment in order to sell the corals later on.
II. Questions:
Will Xenia elongata or Nephthea sp. grow faster?
Which propagation technique will produce the best results from the corals?
What size do both Xenia elongata and Nephthea sp. need to reach to be sold?
Does water movement dramatically affect the growth rate of the corals?
How long does it take each coral to “passively propagate” themselves?
III. Hypothesis:
If Xenia elongata and Nephthea sp. are propagated through the techniques of rubble-bottom, passive, and severing propagation then Xenia elongata will grow faster.
IV. Design of Research:
Xenia elongata and Nepthea sp. will be propagated from the 72 gallon tank and moved to wherever necessary. These corals will be carefully watched, photographed, measured, and recorded every week. The propagation process will begin by testing the techniques of rubble-bottom, passive, and severing on the Xenia and Nephthea corals. The rubble-bottom technique will be carried out by cutting the corals from a parent clone and placed at the bottom of a tank with rubble such as cement plugs and discs, rocks, and other bulky things lying on the sediment of the tank. It is noted that Xenia can attach to the rubble as quickly as one week. Severing is the act of cutting the corals with scissors and placing them onto cement discs or plugs with reef glue. The Xenia corals growing on the glass of the 72 gallon tank are perfect specimens to do this with. The last technique that will be used is the passive technique. This technique requires a coral to grow directly onto a placed cement plug or disc. After it has grown/ attached to the disc or plug it can be cut and moved to be further propagated and sold. The main goal of this experiment is to record which coral grows faster with which technique, along with successfully propagating corals to be sold. V. Schedule:
- Daily care of the tank such as observations and testing will be recorded in notebooks.- In efforts to rid the red algae along with keeping the corals healthy, a water change will be performed twice a week.- The Xenia elongata and Nephthea corals that are being propagated will be measured twice a week in centimeters.- Corals that are ready for propagating will be looked for everyday.
VI. Supplies and Equipment: - 72 gallon tank- Xenia elongata and Nephthea sp.- Protein skimmer - Refugium- Sump- Chiller- Lights- Scissors- Scraper- Cement plugs- Multiple powerheads- Overflow- Ruler- Reef glue- Rubble- Cement Discs- Camera- Phosphorous Reactor- Testing kits- Notebooks- Siphon- Water change buckets- Medium sized plastic container
VII. Bibliography:
1.Calfo, Anthony. Book of Coral Propagation: Reef Gardening for Aquarists. Monroeville, PA: Reading Trees Publications, 2007. Print. 2.Clements, Valetta. "Nephthea." Nano-Reef. Nano-Reef, 2010. Web. 13 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.nano-reef.com/corals/?coral=19>.
3.Maughmer, Dan. "Coral Propagation." Reefs.org. Reefs.org, 1997-2010. Web. 13
Oct. 2010. <http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog/
4.Theisen, Dan. "Soft Coral Fragging." Fish Channel. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2010.
http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-magazines/freshwater-and-marine-aquarium/2007-february/going-to-pieces.aspx
5."Nephthea." Tidal Gardens. Tidal Gardens, Inc., 2010. Web. 13 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.tidalgardens.com/pages/coral/nephthea.html>.
6."Xenia elongata." Xenia elongata. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2010.
http://www.augsburg.edu/home/biology/aquaria/SpeciesInfoFiles/soft_XeniaElongata.html
October
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The keepers of the 72 gallon tank have made significant efforts to keep the growth of red algae li…
The keepers of the 72 gallon tank have made significant efforts to keep the growth of red algae limited. Through several water changes in the past weeks they have seen dramatic success of limiting the red algae. Each keeper of the 72 gallon tank observes and tests the tank every day. The tank defiantly looks better than what it did at the beginning of the project.
November
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They have not yet started measuring and propagating corals. They plan to measure the corals being …
They have not yet started measuring and propagating corals. They plan to measure the corals being propagated twice a week in centimeters. They plan to begin measuring and propagating corals November 1st, and carry on from there.
March
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The Keepers of the 72 gallon tank have continued with daily maintenance and upkeep. This encompass…
The Keepers of the 72 gallon tank have continued with daily maintenance and upkeep. This encompasses daily ph and salinity tests along with temperature checks. We also make a routine effort to scrape coralline algae from the interior of the glass. The keepers also perform weekly water changes to ensure the containment of red algae along with keeping the tank clean. A total of 10 corals were propagated this month. 7 Xenia and 2 Nephthea were propagated with glue, as well as one Xenia being passively propagated. One Xenia and Nephthea were scraped from the clam's shell to be propagated. Overall, the tank is doing quiet well with low levels of red algae and now over 17+ propagated corals.
January
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The keepers of the 72 tank have continued to perform water changes and daily maintenance on the ta…
The keepers of the 72 tank have continued to perform water changes and daily maintenance on the tank in an effort to keep the tank clean and habitable for the corals and fish residents. The phosphorous reactor has continued to take a heavy toll on the red algae of the tank, keeping it cleanly and tidy. The water clarity has also greatly improved and is more consistently free of many particles. the corraline algae in the tank has increased slightly, but is easily managable with scraping every other day or so. All propagated xenia and nephthea are flourishing and their mother colonies are thriving and expanding too. Overall, the wellbeing of the tank has improved on every front.
home
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Propagation of Xenia and Nephthea Corals
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The experiment will be dealing with…
Propagation of Xenia and Nephthea Corals
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The experiment will be dealing with the propagaton of Xenia elongata and Nephthea sp. at The Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia. Both corals are soft, and propagation techniques such as rubble-bottom, severing, and passive will be used. Each technique will be used to determine the best chance of success for each soft coral in the project. The main goal and hope of the project is to observe which coral has better success with which propagation technique, and to correctly propagate the corals to eventually be sold.
