Why is Coral Propagation Important?

For my senior project I have chosen to research and study coral propagation. I chose this project, because I hope to pursue a degree in wildlife conservation and management at Humboldt State University after graduating high school and I wanted to work on a project that would allow me to enjoy the natural beauty of the ocean while at the same time, help me learn a process that may be beneficial to my future education and career. Coral husbandry and propagation is important, because it helps one to understand the specific parameters at which specific corals thrive (e.g. water temperature, salinity, pH, etc.), how they reproduce, how they feed, the rate at which they grow, lighting needs, and how readily they can be farmed in captivity. One may ask why this is important. Because reefs around the world have at one time or another suffered massive devastation, sometimes from natural disasters and other times at the hands of humanity. A NASA study concluded that an entire reef off the Mentawai Islands died in 1997 due to a red tide, which resulted from a combination of two natural events (Lindsey, 2004). In Bali, another reef system was completely destroyed due to the use of poison and explosive fishing practices (Hilbertz & Goreau, 2001). Coral propagation and coral farming can help reestablish such devastated reefs and restore their natural beauty, in turn restoring habitat for the many fish and other creatures that inhabit such systems. This in turn helps to reestablish the balance of the ecosystem. In the end, a healthy reef system will support fisheries that employ sustainable fishing practices and may improve the local economy through increased tourism. I would like to thank all those who have donated their time, knowledge, and equipment in support of my senior project, with a special thank you to Mr. Julian Sprung, author of Corals: A Quick Reference Guide, among others, and president of Two Little Fishies, Inc., who helped me understand why this project is important. References: http://www.twolittlefishies.com/ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/CoralDeath/ http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/offshore-islands/2009/06/01/210351/Black-death.htm http://www.nova.edu/ncri/11icrs/abstract_files/icrs2008-001475.pdf http://www.coral.noaa.gov/cleo/coral_bleaching.shtml http://www.globalcoral.org/pemuteran_coral_reef_restoration.htm

19 February, 2010

3/7-3/21/2009

My dad and I started making the rocks. Carib Sea aragonite gravel, cement, and plastic shavings are all mixed together to make the rocks. Making the rocks like this allows less live rock to be harvested from the ocean, and will help the natural reefs to thrive.
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