Koraller klara sig på bara ljus?

[morphriz]

Från: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-11/eb/index.php

"Myth 3: Corals do not need to be fed. They get all they need from light.

For more information on this myth, I refer to my coral feeding series: Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

Among other possible groupings, corals may be divided into two groups: those that contain symbiotic photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellate) and those that do not (azooxanthellate). Of those zooxanthellate types, algae provide energy to their host coral. The amount of energy they provide varies, but is mostly dependent on the amount of light available. Without knowing the exact species and the exact amount of photosynthetically active radiation available, or the densities or pigmentation of the algae, and the position of the coral in the tank, it is exceedingly difficult to say if a coral is receiving adequate light. It is as possible to provide too much light to some species, as it is to provide not enough to others. Because corals can acquire energy from other sources, the amount of light considered to be "enough" could vary with the availability of these other energy sources.

In all cases, the energy provided by photosynthesis in zooxanthellate corals is rich in carbon and much of it is lost in the production of mucus. Other compounds are used in metabolism or stored mostly as lipids and wax esters. Under ideal conditions, which are rare, photosynthesis can provide 100% or more of the carbon needs of many corals. For many others, even ideally, photosynthesis alone cannot provide all of the carbon requirements. In all cases that I am aware of, corals require additional energy and materials in the form of nitrogen to build tissues and proteins. This nitrogen requirement is met from acquisition of prey, ingestion of particulate material and bacteria, and/or from absorption of dissolved nitrogen compounds.

Potential: serious. Modern aquariums appear to be limited in the amount and types of material available for absorption or heterotrophic acquisition. The relatively rare production of gametes by aquarium corals is probably indicative of this shortage of material. However, more aquarists seem to be aware of this myth than have been in the past. Without question, many organisms in reef tanks starve to death, including corals.

Distribution: widespread. In general, aquarists in the United States may be more aware of the feeding requirements for reef aquariums, and the implicit shortages of many food sources in tanks, than aquarists in other countries."

Denna artikel hade jag missat.

mvh Mattias

[morphriz]

Hehe,

läs gärna bägge delarna av artikeln. Mycket skoj! Själv hade jag trillat dit ordentligt på 2 av dem, 6 & 13.

mvh Mattias

edit: Det fanns en del 3 med

[morphriz]

Fortsätter, saxxat från zeovit.com

Effect of natural zooplankton feeding on the tissue and skeletal growth of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata

C. Ferrier-Pagès, J. Witting, E. Tambutté and K. P. Sebens

Coral Reefs, Volume 22, Number 3, October, 2003

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were designed to estimate the ingestion rates of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata under varying prey concentrations and feeding regimes and to assess the effect of feeding on the tissue and skeletal growth. Six sets of corals were incubated under two light (80 and 300 µmol photons m–2 s–1) and three feeding levels (none, fed twice, and fed six times per week) using freshly collected zooplankton. Results showed that the number of prey ingested was proportional to prey density, and no saturation of feeding capability was reached. Capture rates varied between 0.5 and 8 prey items 200 polyp–1 h–1. Corals starved for several days ingested more plankton than did fed corals. Fed colonies exhibited significantly higher levels of protein, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll c2 per unit surface area than starved colonies. Feeding had a strong effect on tissue growth, increasing it by two to eight times. Calcification rates were also 30% higher in fed than in starved corals. Even moderate levels of feeding enhanced both tissue and skeletal growth, although the processes involved in this enhancement remain to be determined.

Source

http://www.springerlink.com/content/r8nje7kg4fl54pgp/

Daglig dosering av zoo verkar ju vara en bra ide då!

mvh Mattias

edit: skrev fel