Open Brain Coral By: Trey Snellings and Chandler Rees

Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Anthozoa Order: Scleractinia Family: Trachyphylliidae Genus: Trachyphyllia Species: T. geoffroyi

Getting Started Dr. Reynolds gave us the idea for the project after our first idea was very practical. Looked up all we could find on the open brain coral After reading what we could find and talking with Dr. Reynolds we came up with these questions…

Proposal The goal of our project was to assist the division of the Open Brain Coral, by using different methods hoping the three Corals in our tank would eventually turn into four Open Brain Corals. First method was by feeding. Second method was by using string.

Questions Can feeding the open brain coral make it grow faster? Do different types of food make it grow faster/slower? Will a variety of foods be beneficial for the coral rather than only being feeding on one kind? Are their other things that can be feed to the coral other than brine and krill shrimp? Can you make polyps break off by doing certain things?

Hypothesis The open brain coral will not grow faster than its normal rate due to extra feeding. Strings tightened around the polyp will promote a split

Background Info Open Brain Corals are said to be one of the easiest species to care for Many aquarium experts suggest the open brain coral for beginners to put in their first aquarium. Open brain corals come in multiple colors the most common colors are the fluoresce blue, green, red, and opaque. In captive environments, open brain corals usually grow to approximately eight inches in diameter.

Structure Open brain corals, are composed of colonies of genetically identical, polyps. These polyps secrete calcium carbonate to create an exoskeleton that protects the body of the polyp. When the individual exoskeletons fuse together to construct a colony, they create a skeleton base for the coral as a whole.

Habitat They are found in shallow warm-water coral reefs in oceans all around the world. They are mainly found in the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Australian waters as well. The sediment types that the open brain corals thrive on are sandy to silty bottoms.

Diet In the wild Open Brain Corals are nocturnal feeders that extend their tentacles, which sting to filter feed. They do so to filter zooplankton, phytoplankton and any small organism that swims in the surrounding water to feed upon. Open brain corals are able to feed upon larger organisms such as small fish because the individual polyps work together to catch the pray with their tentacles. They can survive without being fed through photosynthesis

Results After a few months we realized that our first four questions were not very realistic for our time frame While feedings were fun, there was no noticeable changes from the feedings Any attempt to measure the coral was useless because the corals would be different sizes everyday, depending on how much water they had in them. We finally decided second semester to go on with using line to promote a split.

Results After months of having line around the coral, the tissue is mostly split. The calcium carbonate skeleton is what is holding it together

Bibliography Calfo, Anthony. Book of Coral Propagation: A Concise Guide to the Successful Care and Culture of Coral Reef Invertebrates. Monroeville, PA: Readingtrees.com, Print. Fenner, Bob. "Trachyphlliidae." Wetwebmedia, Aquarium, Pond, Marine and Freshwater Fish, Reef Tanks, and Aquatics Information. Web. 04 Nov "Open Brain Coral." Home Page. Web. 04 Nov "Open Brain Coral- Green." Blue Zoo Aquatics. Web.. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species." WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Web. 01 May "Coral Anatomy and Structure." NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program:. NOAA Fisheries. Web. 01 May