JP2008125440A - Method for culturing coral - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a series of methods for culturing coral, using a method for preparing coral larvae, and to provide a method for producing coral seedlings. <P>SOLUTION: This series of methods for culturing the coral is provided by combining the method for preparing the coral larvae, which comprises a process of collecting coral colonies from the sea, a process of housing the collected coral colonies in an aquarium, a process of adding hydrogen peroxide (H<SB>2</SB>O<SB>2</SB>), as necessary, to an aquarium that houses the coral colonies, a maintaining process of maintaining the coral colonies under water flow after the hydrogen peroxide-addition process, and a light-shielding process for adjusting oviposition time by shielding the light after performing the maintaining process for an optional period of time; with the method for producing the coral seedlings by culturing for rooting the produced planula larvae and by mix-culturing them with algae-eating marine snails to improve their survival rate, after their metamorphosis into polyps (young corals). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique related to coral reef restoration. More specifically, the present invention relates to a coral larva production method and a series of coral culture methods using a coral seed production method.

  In recent years, coral reef destruction due to marine pollution, overfishing of marine organisms, deforestation and outflow of topsoil caused by agricultural land development has become a problem. Coral reefs serve as natural breakwaters to mitigate disasters caused by typhoons, etc., and serve as a place for spawning and growing marine organisms, as well as contributing to the purification of marine environments, the maintenance of fishing grounds, and the preservation of biodiversity. Recently, it has also been found that coral reefs are a place to inhabit various biological species including carbon dioxide circulation function (CO2 absorption function) and various chemical substances used as raw materials for drugs.

  In order to repair coral reefs having such various functions, it is very important to refrain from the above-mentioned human activities, improve coral aquaculture technology, and promote restoration of coral reefs.

  Here, the formation process of the coral reef in nature will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a coral reef formation process in nature.

  A symbol R in (I) of FIG. 8 schematically shows a coral reef. The coral reef R is a topography formed by stacking the skeletons of organisms that make a hard calcareous tissue such as the coral C. First, egg X and sperm Y are released from coral C forming coral reef R (see (I) in FIG. 8). Next, egg X and sperm Y fertilize (see (II) in FIG. 8). A fertilized egg is indicated by the symbol F. In general, eggs X and sperm Y released from different coral colonies are often fertilized, and self-fertilization hardly occurs. From the fertilized egg F, a planula larva L is born (sexual reproduction) (see (III) in FIG. 8). This planula larva L floats in the ocean for about 2 to 10 days. Thereafter, the planula larva L grows on the bedrock and transforms into polyp P (see (IV) in FIG. 8). In this state, the polyp P (female coral) increases the number of clones (asexual reproduction), forms a colony, and approaches the shape of the coral C (see (V) in FIG. 8). Soon, calcareous skeletons are stacked to form a coral reef R (see (I) in FIG. 8).

As a method for sea coral aquaculture, Patent Document 1 includes a protective means (plans (IV) and (V) in FIG. 8) until a planula larva grows up to a polyp and grows into a juvenile coral. An aquaculture method using the apparatus is disclosed. Patent Document 2 discloses a coral juvenile adhesion base that can increase the survival rate in a coral juvenile period.
JP-A-2005-160316. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-210945.

  A lot of research has been done on coral culture methods, but there are still many ways to improve them. In particular, as mentioned above, many techniques have been disclosed after the establishment of the planula larvae, but after the transformation, juvenile corals survive and grow into a colony to date. It is rare. Further, further development is expected for the process before the planula larvae settle.

  Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a coral culture method that can perform all the steps related to growth from egg laying to coral under favorable conditions.

  The inventor of the present application has developed a suitable method in each step of coral aquaculture as a result of diligent research on a new coral aquaculture method.

First, a collecting step of collecting coral colonies from the sea, a containing step of containing the collected coral colonies in a water tank, and a peroxide that adds hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) to the water tank containing the coral colonies After the hydrogenation step, after the hydrogen peroxide addition step, a maintenance step for maintaining the coral colonies in running water, and after performing the maintenance step for an arbitrary time, the spawning time is adjusted by shading the coral colonies. A coral culturing method using a coral larvae production method comprising at least a light shielding step.

  Coral egg laying occurs between 8pm and 11am. That is, egg laying occurs 1 hour to 3 hours after sunset. Using this, the present inventor has developed a technique for adjusting the egg-laying time.

  Next, a mutilation process for producing fertilized eggs is performed. The flow from coral spawning induction to the nymph process is the coral larva production method.

  In the coral culture method according to the present invention, planula larvae produced from fertilized eggs are bred indoors and outdoors and then allowed to grow on the base. The substrate is not particularly limited, but for example, the substrate can be grown on a substrate left in the sea for an arbitrary period. At that time, if necessary, the neuropeptide Hym-248 (SEQ ID NO: 1) can be added to the sea water containing planula larvae to promote the establishment of the planula larvae.

  In the coral cultivation method according to the present invention, the following coral seed production method can be employed. Planura larva rearing process for breeding planula larvae, and further, through the process of producing juvenile corals that are transformed into polyps (female corals) after being born on the basis of the planula larvae, a special breeding basket is devised and drooped into the water, The base on which the juvenile coral has grown is put in it and mixed with the algal eating snails to remarkably increase the survival rate (coral breeding process). In this coral breeding process, corals are bred for one year or more and transplanted to the actual sea area when the coral seedlings grow to a certain size (coral transplantation process). The flow from the larva breeding process to the juvenile coral breeding process is the coral seed production method.

  By using the coral cultivation method according to the present invention, the coral can be stably cultivated, and further, it can contribute to the restoration of the coral reef.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment described below shows an example of typical embodiment of this invention, and, thereby, the range of this invention is not interpreted narrowly.

<How to make coral larvae>
The coral larva production method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing each step of the coral larva production method according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, (I) shows a coral colony collecting process, (II) shows a coral colony accommodation process, (III) shows a hydrogen peroxide addition process applied as necessary, and (IV) shows a running water maintenance process. Details of each step will be described below.

(I) Coral colony collecting step First, the coral colony 1 is collected from the sea. At this time, it is desirable that the coral colony 1 to be collected is collected for five or more colonies per one type of coral, waiting for egg laying, egg-collecting, and used for meditation. This is because corals generally do not cause self-fertilization, and colonies that do not have fertilization effects are mixed.

(II) Coral colony accommodation process The collected coral colony 1 is accommodated in a water tank 2 or the like. Although not shown, the accommodated coral colony 1 is desirably maintained in running water until the start of hydrogen peroxide addition.

(III) Hydrogen peroxide addition process If the conditions are good, the coral colonies start laying eggs in the aquarium, but if necessary, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) is added to the aquarium 2 containing the coral colonies 1. Can adjust the egg-laying time. During the treatment with hydrogen peroxide, secretion of mucus, release of zooxanthellae, etc. occur from the coral colonies 1, causing severe damage to the coral colonies 1, and in the worst case the coral colonies 1 may die. Since damage caused by hydrogen peroxide varies depending on the state and type of the coral colony 1, the state of the coral colony 1 during the hydrogen peroxide treatment can be observed at any time to adjust the concentration and addition time of the hydrogen peroxide. desirable.

  For example, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and the addition time are 2 mM at 2 mM for Corbose-shaped Corropora coral colonies 1 or 2 hours at 5 mM, and 2 mM at 2 mM for Table-shaped Montipora coral colonies 1 for about 2 hours. The hydrogen peroxide treatment is preferred. Even these coral colonies 1 are not limited to the exemplified processing conditions because damage due to hydrogen peroxide varies depending on the accommodation state.

(IV) Flowing water maintenance process Coral colony 1 treated with hydrogen peroxide under arbitrary conditions is maintained in running water. The maintenance time is at least 9 hours or more, more preferably about 16 hours. This is to lay eggs with a higher probability.

  Coral spawning generally occurs in the 8 to 11 o'clock time zone under natural light conditions. That is, egg laying occurs about 1 to 3 hours after sunset. Therefore, coral spawning can be induced at an arbitrary time by artificially manipulating the light conditions. In the present invention, after the coral colony housing step (II) or the running water maintenance step (IV), the coral colony 1 is shielded from light by, for example, surrounding the water tank 2 with a dark box or the like, and about 1 to 3 hours after being shielded from laying eggs. Adopt the light shielding process method to adjust the time.

<Coral culture method>
The coral culture method will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a process flow diagram of the coral cultivation method according to the present invention.

  In the conventional coral culture method, a method of collecting eggs / embryos after spawning from the ocean is often used. With conventional methods, it is difficult to predict the egg-laying date and to specify the collection location, so it has not always been possible to collect eggs and embryos after egg-laying stably every year. In addition, the collected eggs / embryos were in poor condition, and the collected eggs sometimes died due to blastomeres. For this reason, it was difficult to perform efficient coral culture in the process of coral larva production.

  On the other hand, if the coral larvae production method is used as one method of the coral culture method, the egg-laying time itself can be managed. Therefore, in the early stage of coral culture (coral larva production method), efficient coral culture can be performed systematically.

1. Coral larva production method (I) Coral spawning is induced, and (II) the coral production method is until the egg and sperm are mixed and sperm in the sperm process ((I) in FIG. (II) 1 step). When the fertilization occurs, a planula larva is born from a fertilized egg (embryo).

2. Coral seedling production method (III) Planula larva rearing process Next, the planula larvae are reared (process (III) in FIG. 2). A known method can be adopted as a method for raising the planula larvae. The breeding density of the planula larvae is desirably 200 or less per liter of seawater. The density of embryos and planula larvae in seawater can be estimated by taking about 0.1L of the breeding seawater and estimating the number of planula larvae contained in the collected water. Therefore, it is desirable to collect water at least 3 to 5 times and investigate after thoroughly stirring the whole water.

  For the purpose of small-scale experimental research, it is possible to raise using a bowl or the like. In this case, it is desirable to transfer the planula larvae to a new bowl filled with fresh purified seawater using a pipette or the like at a rate of about once a day. In order to maintain a well-planar larva, it is important to always supply fresh breeding seawater.

  You can float a ginger on the sea and raise a large number of Planula larvae. An example of a method for raising planula larvae using ginger will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a side view of a ginger for raising planula larvae installed on the sea surface. In FIG. 3, symbol S indicates the sea surface and symbol B indicates the sea bottom.

  A plastic sheet for sericulture is stretched on the small ginger cage 4 fixed to the float 3 so as to form a substantially rectangular parallelepiped with an upper opening, thereby forming a planula larva breeding tank 5. A seawater sprinkling hose 6 provided with sprinkling ports 61 at regular intervals is stretched from the sea surface of the planula larva breeding tank 5 to the upper inner surface. An underwater pump 7 is installed at one end of the seawater sprinkling hose 6 to absorb seawater from the sea near the ginger. The absorbed seawater is sprinkled from the water spout 61 of the seawater sprinkling hose 6 toward the inner surface of the water tank 5 for breeding the planula larvae. This is to prevent the planula larvae from adhering to the water tank sheet.

  A net-shaped water flow window 51 is provided on the side surface and the bottom surface of the water tank 5 for raising the planula larvae. By providing the water flow window 51, seawater can be circulated.

  FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the planula larva rearing tank 5. The width W and the depth H of the planula larva rearing tank 5 can be designed freely. As an example, in a ginger using eight planula larvae rearing tanks 5 having a width W of 2 m and a depth W of 1 m, about 3 million or more planula larvae can be bred.

  It is desirable to keep the water temperature at 26 ° C. or higher and lower than 30 ° C. so that the planula larvae can grow into a polyp. A more preferable water temperature is about 27 ° C. It takes about 6 days after egg laying at a water temperature of 26 ° C. and about 5 days after egg laying at a water temperature of 27 ° C. until the planula larvae can mature into a polyp.

  The maturity of the planula larvae can be examined by a known method. For example, it can be examined by confirming the ability of larvae to settle using a base with lime algae or a piece of coral stone.

(IV) Juvenile coral production process Next, the planula larvae matured until they can be transformed into polyps are allowed to grow on the base (process (IV) in FIG. 2). Planula larvae can usually maintain their ability to settle for about 5 to 10 days. It is 1 to 2 days after the start of the epiphysis that the planula larvae have the greatest ability to settle.

  The settlement base can be freely selected. For example, a base made of various materials such as concrete, unglazed tile, shell, pottery stone tile, pottery, and slate plate can be used. In addition, since many planula larvae grow on the inside of the corner or in the depression, a base having a three-dimensional structure such as a groove may be employed.

  These bases are more preferably used after leaving in the sea for an arbitrary time in advance. This is because the planula larvae grow more when they are used after some other organisms adhere to the surface.

  The grown planula larvae eventually transform into polyps (step (IV) in FIG. 2). Although the epiphysis of the planula larvae and the transformation to polyps may be left to nature, the epiphysis and transformation can be artificially promoted. For example, if you add a chip made by cutting the surface of the algal body of Hydrolithon reinboldii, which is a kind of red algae coral, or Peyssonnelia sp. Will occur. These chips can be stored for about one year or longer if they are immersed in a beaker or the like containing rifampicin aqueous solution (2 mg / L), which is an antibiotic, and then washed with water after removing water with filter paper.

In addition, if the neuropeptide Hym-248 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is used, higher and more stable formation can be induced. The neuropeptide Hym-248 can be isolated from the freshwater hydra Hydra magnipapillata, but can also be artificially synthesized. The addition concentration of the neuropeptide Hym-248 can be freely set according to the state of the planula larvae. For example, when the neuropeptide Hym-248 is added at a concentration of 1 × 10 ⁻⁶ M in the filtered seawater containing the planula larvae, the establishment is completed with a probability of almost 100% within about 12 hours.

  After settlement, the planula larvae transform into polyps. By adding the neuropeptide Hym-248, it is possible to promote not only the formation of planula larvae but also the transformation into polyps.

(V) Juvenile coral upbringing process After transformation to polyp, it grows from polyp to juvenile coral and nurtures juvenile coral (process (V) in FIG. 2). The growth from polyps to juvenile corals and the breeding of juvenile corals can also be carried out in a natural environment, but polyps immediately after their establishment are as small as 1 mm or less in diameter. Often covered and killed. Algae in particular, like corals, require light and space, making them a competitor for stagnation. Also, when algae grows, a large amount of sediment accumulates on the base, causing coral death. In addition, some marine organisms such as shellfish and fish also eat and cut corals.

  It has been extremely difficult to grow juvenile corals with high probability. However, the inventor of the present application designed and produced a special juvenile coral-raising cage, suspended it in water, and mixed it with algal-eating snails to remove algae through the feeding activities of snails. We found that we can protect coral from foreign enemies and increase the survival rate. A specific example will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a side view of the juvenile coral cultivation device installed on the sea surface. In FIG. 5, symbol S indicates the sea surface, and symbol B indicates the sea bottom.

  The coral cultivation cage 8 is suspended in the sea suspended from the small ginger cage 4 fixed to the float 3. The base on which the juvenile coral has grown and the algal eating snail are put together in the coral cultivation cage 8 and mixed. Since the algalivorous snails feed on the algae grown around the juvenile coral, it is possible to prevent the death of the juvenile coral accompanying the overgrowth of the algae. Moreover, since the juvenile coral is cultivated in the coral cultivation cage 8, it is possible to prevent the invasion of other shellfish and fish from the ocean, and to prevent damage from marine organisms such as shellfish and fish. Is possible.

  FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view of the coral growing cage 8. The shape and size of the coral cultivation basket 8 can be designed freely. In FIG. 6, a rectangular parallelepiped cage 8 having a length of about 80 cm, a width of 80 cm, and a height of 16 cm is taken as an example. The size of the scale of the coral cultivating basket 8 can be set freely. As an example, a mesh size of about 10 mm is suitable for preventing invasion of marine organisms, preventing escape of seaweed snails, maintaining seawater circulation, and the like.

  In order to prevent the escape of the small algal eating snails, for example, a net with a small mesh size (not shown) can be attached to the inside of the coral growing cage 8 until the algal eating snails grow to some extent. This net may be replaced or removed as the algal eating snail grows.

  In the coral cultivation cage 8, the base 9 on which the juvenile coral has grown and the algal eating snail 10 are put together and mixed. The material, shape, size, etc. of the base 9 can be designed freely. Moreover, the installation method of the base 9 can be designed freely. As an example, it is desirable to install the plane portion of the base 9 perpendicularly to the bottom surface of the coral cultivation cage 8. This is to prevent sediments in the ocean. Moreover, it is desirable that the base 9 and the bottom surface of the coral growing cage 8 are in contact with each other. This is because the seaweed snail 10 can be easily climbed on the base 9.

  Moreover, the arrangement | positioning method of the base | substrate 9 can also be designed freely. In FIG. 6, as an example of the arrangement method of the base 9, the base skewer 11 is passed through the center of the base 9, and a plurality of bases 9 are connected at regular intervals, and are arranged in the coral cultivation basket 8. This is for improving the operability and preventing the base 9 from falling down. In addition to this, although not shown in the drawings, it is also possible to freely attach the base 9 to the bottom surface of the coral cultivating cage 8 at regular intervals and fix the base 9 with the fixture.

  The installation interval of the base 9 can be designed freely. Considering that the space between the bases 9 is narrowed by the growth of juvenile corals and that the algal erodible snail 10 grows, it is desirable to design to the extent that the algal vegetative snail 10 can pass.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state on the base 9 installed in the juvenile coral cultivation basket 8. The algal edible snails 10 that freely crawl on the base 9 feed on the algae 12 that grew on the base 9 where the juvenile coral C has grown (see (I) in FIG. 7). Therefore, juvenile coral C can be grown without being prevented from growing by the algae 12 (see (II) in FIG. 7).

(VI) Coral transplantation step After the juvenile coral cultivation step (V), the grown juvenile coral is transplanted into the ocean (step (VI) in FIG. 2). Transplanted juvenile corals grow into colonies by increasing their clones. Then, the calcareous skeletons are stacked, and eventually a coral reef is formed.

  In Example 1, juvenile corals grown using the coral cultivation method according to the present invention were mixed with algal eating snails.

  Thirty bases with juvenile coral were placed in a juvenile coral breeding cage that was 80 cm long, 80 cm wide, 16 cm high, and 10 mm in size, suspended from a float placed on the sea surface. The juvenile coral-growing cage was filled with 50 Sarasabati (Takagai) as an algal eating snail and mixed for 1 year.

  As a result, corals having a diameter of about 4 to 5 cm were able to grow up to about 10 colonies per base and about 300 colonies per cage.

  In Example 1, when the juvenile coral was mixed with the algal vegetative snails, it was found that the algal edible snails feed on the algae that hinder the growth of the corals, and therefore the coral nurturing process can be protected.

  The coral cultivation method according to the present invention can perform all processes related to growth from egg laying to coral under favorable conditions. Therefore, corals can be cultivated in a planned and stable manner, and can contribute to the restoration of coral reefs. When coral reefs are restored, they can further contribute to the recharge of aquatic resources, increased catch, increased biodiversity, purification of the marine environment, prevention of natural disasters, and development of new drugs.

It is a flowchart which shows each process of the coral spawning induction method which concerns on this invention. It is a process flow figure of the coral cultivation method concerning the present invention. It is a side view of the ginger for Planula larva breeding installed in the sea surface. It is an upper perspective view of the water tank 5 for raising planula larvae. It is a side view of the juvenile coral cultivation device installed on the sea surface. It is an upper perspective view of the coral cultivation basket 8. It is a schematic diagram which shows the mode on the base | substrate 9 installed in the juvenile coral cultivation basket 8. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the coral reef formation process in nature.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coral group 2 Aquarium 3 Float 4 Small trout ginger 5 Planura larva breeding tank 51 Water flow window 6 Sea water sprinkling hose 61 Sprinkling port 7 Submersible pump 8 Coral breeding cage 9 Base 10 Algae-eating conch 11 Base skewer 12 Algae S Sea surface B Seabed R Coral reef X Egg Y Sperm F Fertilized egg L Planula larva P Polyp C Coral, fry coral

Claims (4)

A collection process for collecting coral colonies from the sea;
A housing step of housing the collected coral colonies in a water tank;
A hydrogen peroxide addition step of adding hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) to a water tank containing the coral colonies;
A maintenance step of maintaining the coral colonies in running water after the hydrogen peroxide addition step;
After performing the maintenance step for an arbitrary time, by shielding the coral colony, a light shielding step of adjusting the spawning time;
Coral culture method using coral larva production method including at least.   The coral culturing method according to claim 1, wherein planula larvae produced from fertilized eggs are bred indoors and / or outdoors and allowed to grow on a base left in the sea for an arbitrary period.   The coral culture method according to claim 2, wherein the neuropeptide Hym-248 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is added to the sea water containing planula larvae to promote the establishment of the planula larvae.   The coral culturing method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the grown planula larvae are mixed with algalivorous snails after being transformed into polyps.

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