Thesis
Sea anemones in the marine aquarium trade
Southern Cross University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25918/thesis.357
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Abstract
Organism collection for the marine aquarium trade is an anthropogenic stressor affecting coral reef ecosystems. Less than 10% of traded marine organisms are cultured, and increased mariculture could reduce collection pressures on reefs. Sea anemones are among the most traded invertebrates in the marine aquarium trade, but very little published information is available about their mariculture. Therefore, this thesis aims to investigate aspects of sea anemone trade and mariculture to support the captive breeding of individuals for supply for aquaria and conservation. First, an online survey of anemone aquarists and businesses was conducted to determine the most popular species and explore respondents’ attitudes towards the sustainability of the sea anemone trade. According to survey respondents, Entacmaea quadricolor (Bubble-tip anemone) is the most popular anemone in the marine aquarium trade. Moreover, the majority of respondents would be prepared to pay more for sustainably cultured than wild-harvested anemones if the former were available. This research was followed by a series of laboratory experiments planned to determine larval survival, settlement, and juvenile feeding requirements for one popular species of anemone, Radianthus crispa. Under laboratory conditions, the ideal density for ex situ rearing of R. crispa larvae lies between 3000 and 4000 larvae·L-1. Following settlement, the growth of juvenile R. crispa was enhanced by feeding with live Artemia nauplii or metanauplii every four or five days during the subsequent three months, compared with dried Instar I Artemia, general invertebrate liquid food or no feeding. Finally, adults of five species of anemone were tested to establish whether manual fragmentation methods could be used for ex situ propagation. This experiment confirmed that asexual manual fragmentation of two new species of anemone was possible, with a survival rate of 88% for fragments of Stichodactyla tapetum and Aulactinia veratra, neither of which is known to naturally reproduce using fission. Adoption and optimisation of these techniques for scaled-up production of the most popularly-traded anemones will help reduce harvest pressure on wild populations and could support mariculture businesses and the livelihoods of residents in coastal tropical villages.
Details
- Title
- Sea anemones in the marine aquarium trade
- Creators
- Nicola Jane Fraser
- Contributors
- Anna Scott (Supervisor) - Southern Cross UniversitySangeeta Mangubhai (Supervisor)Karina Hall (Supervisor) - Southern Cross UniversityKirsten Benkendorff (Supervisor) - Southern Cross University
- Awarding Institution
- Southern Cross University; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Theses
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
- Publisher
- Southern Cross University
- Number of pages
- xv, 263
- Identifiers
- 991013186113802368
- Copyright
- © N J Fraser 2022
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre; School of Environment, Science and Engineering
- Resource Type
- Thesis