Building Specific Galleries - Coral Farm
What kind of farm does not require any fields, barns, or tractors, but is full of live animals? A coral farm! Located on the third floor of the Florida Aquarium, our Caribbean coral farm is home to approximately 16 species of stony coral and 9 species of soft coral. Our new “web cam” will also allow you to view our corals from any computer with Internet access.
Why a Coral Farm?
If corals can be found in warm, clear, shallow seas throughout the Caribbean and around the world, why do we grow them here at the Aquarium? Fragments from these corals will be made available to other Aquarium and Zoo institutions, researchers and reef restoration projects in order to help conserve wild populations.
Many scientists research corals, but since they are protected, it can be very difficult to obtain a collecting permit. Our farm allows us to distribute corals to facilities conducting research. For example, many scientists are conducting growth studies on corals in captivity. Do they grow faster in captivity than on the reef? Do seasons impact growth rates? Our farm may help researchers to answer these questions.
In addition to research, our coral farm serves as a recovery site for damaged fragments obtained from ship groundings, confiscations, dredging and storms. When coral reefs are damaged, small fragments of coral are often left behind. Some of these corals are sent to us in hopes that in 4 or 5 years, they can be returned to the Florida Keys.
Corals at Risk?
For several decades, scientists have expressed concerns about the status of coral reefs around the world. Reefs that are close to major metropolitan areas are particularly threatened, as are those near popular tourist destinations. Many factors contribute to coral reef degradation, including:
Overfishing: Occurs when fish are caught faster than they can reproduce. Fishing has to be managed so that enough animals remain to replace themselves and to fulfill their roles in the coral reef system.
Sedimentation: Occurs when sediment levels increase due to human activity such as dredging, coastal construction, or by land clearance for roads, agriculture or forestry. Corals cannot thrive in cloudy water because it blocks out essential sunlight.
Pollution: Environmental contamination with man-made waste. Toxins such as heavy metals (e.g. mercury, iron, cadmium), hydrocarbons (e.g. oil and diesel), synthetic chemicals (pesticides, fertilizers and anti-fouling paints), radioactivity and sewage, affect a coral reef’s ability to survive and grow.
Physical Damage: Damage caused by anchors, fishing, dredging, boat groundings, etc. Coral polyps are very delicate animals. Although some corals use fragments as a way of building new colonies, most die when they are broken or crushed.
Why Should You Care?
We live in a challenging time. As human populations grow, our impact on the natural environment around us increases. Coral reefs are important ecosystems.
Coral reefs provide a home for much of the seafood we eat.
Coral reefs may provide potentially life-saving drugs.
Coral reefs provide beach and shoreline protection against storms.
Coral reefs are economically important tourist sites.
Coral reefs provide a home for many species of plants and animals.
Coral reefs may improve air quality by decreasing global warming and removing carbon dioxide from the air.
Additional Resources:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Coral Reef Guide
http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/welcome.html
The Florida Marine Research Institute
http://www.floridamarine.org/
Coral Reef Alliance
http://www.coralreefalliance.org/
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