Katie Webster

 Phylum Cnidaria  Colonial growth  Foundation species

 Commercial  Conservation  Research

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

 Zooxanthellae symbiosis  Calcium carbonate skeleton  Reef builders

 Flexible  Lacy appearance  Proteinaceous skeletons

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

Montipora spp. Purple Montipora capricornis Supernatural Montipora capricornis

Turbinaria peltata Green Pagoda Coral Dendrophyllia fistula Red Sun Coral

Sarcophyton spp. Green Toadstool Leather Long Polyping Leather

Sinularia spp. Blue Devils Finger Leather Yellow Fiji Finger Leather

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

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

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

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

 Zooxanthellae provide energy  Dissolved organic matter  Plankton and small organisms

 Fast growing  Minimum feeding  Easy to aquaculture  Conservation efforts

 Harmful to humans  Expensive  Predation and disease