Preface

Introduction

Coral reefs are endangered due to a.o. pollution, over fishing, destructive fishing, coral quarrying and global warming. Within aquaria the opposite is happening: modern techniques, increasing knowledge and skills improve the quality of live coral reef displays and coral survival. Doors are opened towards coral culture and coral reef restoration.

Corals have been kept in aquariums for hundreds of years. However, only in the last few decades coral husbandry has developed as a science, and technological advances have enabled aquarists to install and maintain environmental parameters essential for keeping corals in closed systems alive and thriving. Aquarium hobbyists have played an important part in this development. They share with scientists and public aquarium managers and aquarists an awareness of the importance to learn as much as possible about corals and apply this to the conservation of natural coral reefs.

From April 16 through 21, 2007 the 1st International Symposium of Coral Husbandry in Public Aquaria was organized by Burgers’ Zoo in Arnhem, The Netherlands. Its goal was to bring together aquarium specialists and coral scientists from all over the world to review current know-how of the most important aspects of coral husbandry.

This book contains the peer-reviewed contributions of that symposium, thus giving a comprehensive overview of recent results and experiences with coral husbandry in public aquaria.

For convenience of the reader, the book is divided into 5 sections (partly coinciding with the sessions of the symposium): (I) Animal husbandry and aquarium system management; (II) Coral exhibit design and large exhibits; (III) Population management; (IV) Conservation and transportation; and (V) Taxonomy. The latter section was included after many explicit requests of symposium participants, and taken care of by the organizers of the two taxonomic workshops during the symposium.

In the book only SI-units are used for measurements of any kind. At the end of the book a conversion table for English and American units is added.

The information gathered in this book is an important step on the road to more efficient coral husbandry, and hopefully one of many others to follow the first symposium.

This book is the second volume of the Public Aquarium Husbandry series. In 2004 the Elasmobranch Husbandry Manual by Smith et al. was published (www.colszoo.org/internal/elasmo_2005/page1.htm). It’s expected more volumes will appear in the coming years to review husbandry of other animal or plant groups or techniques to help increase collaboration and information flux within the public aquaria field.

Well designed displays, showing the wonderful biodiversity of coral reefs, serve to enhance public awareness of the need to conserve this unique habitat. The development of healthy coral reef displays in public aquaria strengthens the quality of this educational tool presenting the beauty of corals and coral reefs to the public and increasing awareness of the importance of and the threats to natural coral reefs.

Knowledge about coral husbandry and culture can be applied to preservation of natural coral reefs, but also to restore damaged reefs to their original beauty and vitality.
We thank those that contributed to this book and shared their experiences with others. We express the sincere hope that these goals will come into reach a little more by the collected contributions in this book.

Rob Leewis and Max Janse (editors)

Steering committee

Andy Aiken, National Aquarium Baltimore, USA
Dominique Barthelemy, Océanopolis Brest, France
Mike Brittsan, Columbus Zoo, USA
Bruce Carlson, Georgia aquarium, USA
Charles Delbeek, Waikiki Aquarium, USA
Pierre Gilles, Mussée Océanographique de Monaco, Monaco
Max Janse (chair), Burgers’ Zoo, The Netherlands
Rachel Jones, Zoological Society of London, England
Kirsten Michalek-Wagner, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australia
Ronald Osinga, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
João Falcato Pereira, Oceanario Lisboa, Portugal
Dirk Petersen, Rotterdam Zoo, The Netherlands
Dennis Thoney, Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, USA
Ken Yates, Down Town Aquarium, USA