Survival and Growth of Isolated Polyps of Galaxea fascicularis (Linnaeus 1767) on Six Kinds of Culture Substrates: Implications for Mariculture, Aquarium Culture, and Conservation

Abstract Coral aquaculture is viewed as a sustainable method of providing colonies for use in the aquarium trade, pharmacological studies, and coral reef rehabilitation. The production of large, healthy specimens depends on providing conditions that mimic or surpass natural reef environments. Materials with a high degree of variability in physical and chemical properties are utilized as substrates in coral aquaculture, but until fragment–substrate interactions are isolated and independently studied, the possible inhibitory and facilitative effects of each material will remain unclear. To understand potential key roles that substrates can play in coral culture, a comparison was made about the role of various materials on fragment survival and growth. The experiment examined the interactions between isolates of a common scleractinian coral, Galaxea fascicularis , and six commonly used substrates (coral rock, terracotta, polyvinyl chloride, steel, rubber tire, and concrete) and how these affected survival and growth. No differences were observed in the survival, colony size, and polyp production of the resulting microcolonies. The results show that, for G. fascicularis , growth is not affected by substrate type. The results demonstrate the use of a wide variety of materials for the successful aquaculture of scleractinian corals.