Scientists Speed Coral Growth?

[NaH2O]

Take a look at this article: Scientists Speed Coral Growth. It is far from being a scientific document, however, it raised some questions for me, and I'm not sure I buy it. Would the method really work? Would the "high metabolic activity" weaken the coral at all, whether its the skeletal structure, or something else? How does it stimulate a high metabolic response and keep it there?

Here are a few points from the article:

First, he submerges coral stem cells in a plastic bag with concentrated salt water, which he compares to a slap in the cellular face. The salinity is not much greater than that of seawater - about the amount of salt added to a margarita. But to cells, this extra pinch is a nasty shock.

The innovation is what happens next. When the coral cells are placed in a tank of normal seawater, instead of relaxing, they retain high metabolic activity as they mature. Sonnenschein compares this to a series of light pats on the cheek, to keep the color up.

Research intern Elizabeth Smith pointed out that the treated coral, underneath the hermit crabs and snails that scour and clean them, burgeon and bloom more fully than untreated counterparts.

Does anyone else find this last quote silly? I've never noticed my snails or hermit crabs scouring or cleaning my corals? Doesn't water flow aid in this process? Perhaps in the lab it is different than my tank, or maybe I'm misinterpreting what is being said.

 

[mojoreef]

Philippe Cousteau, president of the environmental advocacy group EarthEcho International, said growing coral in captivity is "very cutting-edge stuff . . . there are only a few people doing it."

Sure Jacque voulez vois another Corona??? Ahh life in a test tube??


Now is this what they were atalking about with stem cell research??



Mike

 

[fishcrazy]

Why would one want to do such a thing? Corals are osmoconformers.

Their little "slap in the cellular face" has a word. Osmotic Shock. We purposely try to mimic 35 ppt salinity to avoid osmotic shock so why would you do it on purpose. Sure, you will see an increase in cellular activity by doing it but I don't see why it would increase growth. I would think that all of the extra energy that the coral expends would simply be for it to maintain a proper ionic balance.

 

[mojoreef]

Thier only dealing with the coral on a stem cell level Curt. So not really fraging but injecting coral stem cells into a bag, then the tank


Mike

 

[wrightme43]

Now maybe this is just wrong, though here it goes anyways. When I see (President of Enviormental Advocacy Group EarthEcho International) My brain instantly tunes out anything that has anything to do with them. I am all for conservation, I am all for protecting the earth. I am also all for sending all hippies and enviromental wackos straight into the middle of Congo for 6 months and seeing how many come out alive. Maybe this has nothing to do with this. Maybe it does. I am already on one enviromental wacko groups hatemail list. Whats one or two more. I will shut up after stating these are my personal opinions and not in any way shape or form the views of anyone other than me, unless they state otherwise themselves.
Steve

 

[MikeS]

I read the article....I think I'd need to see his abstract to make heads or tails of what is going on here...I'd love to see his hypothesis on all this....

MikeS

 

[NaH2O]

I read the article....I think I'd need to see his abstract to make heads or tails of what is going on here...I'd love to see his hypothesis on all this....

MikeS

I would also like to see it, Mike. I can't figure out how this works. I also wonder what the salinity of the bag is.

Its not like we're talking about the NOAA doing the research in the article, we're talking about an aquarium in St. Louis. I've been to this aquarium from the article....that's all I'll say about it . Maybe this procedure is one that has been tried before, or used, and I've just never heard of it (which is a good possibility).

 

[steve-s]

I also wonder what the salinity of the bag is.

And what is used to increase that salinity above NSW (artificial mix or evaped seawater). Could simpley be a chemical reaction in the coral same/similar way as raising Ca artificially above NSW values forcing the coral to deposit faster gaining equilibrium... :?:

Being they have generally spoken of "corals" and "embryonic coral cells", I wonder if they have attempted/been successful with all types or just a select group. ie.. soft, LPS or SPS.

Cheers
Steve