Influence of different feeding regimes on the survival and growth of Acropora digitifera in husbandry

Puteri Nurshazmimi Zaidi and Farah Amirah Ahmad Mustaffa and Tan, Chun Hong (2023) Influence of different feeding regimes on the survival and growth of Acropora digitifera in husbandry. Journal of Sustainability Science and Management (Malaysia), 18 (1). pp. 118-132. ISSN 2672-7226

Scleractinian corals rely on autotrophy and heterotrophy feeding to maintain their daily energy requirements. In the wild, there are plenty of food sources in their surroundings. But in closed ex-situ systems, one of the biggest challenges for corals is to meet their nutrient requirements. This study aims to determine the survivorship and growth of Acropora digitifera in ex-situ systems with different feeding treatments. Three colonies were placed in different treatment tanks, and then three branches per colony were tagged. Two tanks were fed with Artemia and budu (fermented anchovy sauce), while one tank remains unfed throughout the experiment. The mortality and linear growth rate of the corals were quantified monthly for three months. The results showed that feeding had a significant influence on coral growth. Between the fed corals, budu promoted the highest mean growth rate (0.045±0.005 mm/day), while corals in the Artemia-fed tank showed a growth rate that is 50% lower. However, corals in the Artemia-fed tank had the highest (89%) survival rate. The unfed corals were recorded to have the lowest growth rate (0.004 ± 0.005 mm/day). This showed that A. digitifera better utilised dissolved particulate food (i.e., budu) compared with zooplanktons. Correspondingly, further studies on budu as a potential alternative coral feed are needed in future.

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Abstract

Scleractinian corals rely on autotrophy and heterotrophy feeding to maintain their daily energy requirements. In the wild, there are plenty of food sources in their surroundings. But in closed ex-situ systems, one of the biggest challenges for corals is to meet their nutrient requirements. This study aims to determine the survivorship and growth of Acropora digitifera in ex-situ systems with different feeding treatments. Three colonies were placed in different treatment tanks, and then three branches per colony were tagged. Two tanks were fed with Artemia and budu (fermented anchovy sauce), while one tank remains unfed throughout the experiment. The mortality and linear growth rate of the corals were quantified monthly for three months. The results showed that feeding had a significant influence on coral growth. Between the fed corals, budu promoted the highest mean growth rate (0.045±0.005 mm/day), while corals in the Artemia-fed tank showed a growth rate that is 50% lower. However, corals in the Artemia-fed tank had the highest (89%) survival rate. The unfed corals were recorded to have the lowest growth rate (0.004 ± 0.005 mm/day). This showed that A. digitifera better utilised dissolved particulate food (i.e., budu) compared with zooplanktons. Correspondingly, further studies on budu as a potential alternative coral feed are needed in future.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	corals
AGROVOC Term:	Aquaculture
AGROVOC Term:	experimental design
AGROVOC Term:	statistical methods
AGROVOC Term:	sampling
AGROVOC Term:	biologists
AGROVOC Term:	growth control
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Acropora digitifera
Depositing User:	Nor Hasnita Abdul Samat
Date Deposited:	12 Mar 2025 04:01
Last Modified:	12 Mar 2025 04:01
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/453

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