This
volume contains 480 pages that are profusely illustrated with excellent
color photographs and informative line drawings. There is also an
appendix containing an extensive bibliography and an index.
Alf
Nilsen and Svein Fossa continue their important contributions to
the field of aquarium science with the fourth volume of
what these highly expert and experienced aquarists intend as a
five-volume “encyclopedia.”To review the previous work in this series, the first
volume concentrates on theory and technology.The authors discuss the ecology of natural coral reefs
and present their perspectives on recreating these conditions as
closely as possible in closed systems, from setting up the live
rock foundation of the aquarium to dealing with the intricacies
of lighting, temperature control, filtration and water quality
maintenance.They
conclude the volume with an important chapter emphasizing the
aquarist’s responsibility to foster reef conservation.Volume 2, subtitled “The Cnidarians in their Natural
Habitat and in the Coral Reef Aquarium,” deals extensively
with the phylum Cnidaria, and includes detailed and informative
chapters on the biological requirements and general maintenance
of these organisms of central interest to reef keepers.Organisms are rated on three scales: general aquarium
suitability (GA), sensitivity (SE) and compatibility with tank
mates (CO), and assigned a plus or minus on each scale.This convention is followed in the following volumes.
The third volume in the
series focuses on the organisms other than cnidarians and fishes
that inhabit our aquariums.The volume presents an overview of the evolutionary
perspective and of taxonomy and covers single celled organisms,
the sponges, the marine worms, and the crustaceans.It also includes a number of small invertebrate phyla –
comb jellies, moss animals, sea spiders and horseshoe crabs,
among others - that are rarely described in books for aquarists.
Volume
4 opens with a chapter titled "The Future of Reef Aquariums"
by Bruce Carlson, former Director of the Waikiki Aquarium and current
Vice President for Life Sciences at the under-construction Georgia
Aquarium.Referring to the
development of the science of aquariology he states, "Forty years
ago, many people (including many coral reef scientists) scoffed at the
suggestion that living corals might someday thrive in closed-system
aquariums, but the pessimists were wrong.... Certainly, much more has
taken place since 1962 than even the most optimistic hobbyist could have
dreamed of at that time.So
as we consider what might take place in home aquariums during the next
forty years, the lesson is to be bold and imaginative when thinking
about the future."
He suggests the
following will occur in the future of aquaristics: the culturing
of ornamental reef fishes and invertebrates will become the
leading edge of aquarium sciences; the development of a variety
of specialized aquarium habitats such as surge zone, mangrove
and seagrass habitats will become more common; the creation of
highly colored "designer clams and corals" by
combining knowledge of the effects of light intensity and
wavelength with genetics will become possible; new technologies
for water movement, lighting and UV generation and control will
lead to greater standardization; and coral breeding, especially
through availability of flash-frozen planulae, will become
possible.He also
suggests that a computerized comprehensive "encyclopedia of
marine life" will become available and aquariums for
endangered species may become "last refuges."He concludes, "The one event I do not see happening
in the future is the eventual demise of the marine aquarium
hobby."
Chapter 2 begins the
formal substance of the book, with an extensive, even
exhaustive, chapter on Mollusca.The authors cover taxonomy and evolution, general biology
and the role of mollusks on coral reefs and in the coral reef
aquarium.The
phylum is presented systematically, with selected species,
usually those of particular interest for aquarists, additionally
described by geographic distribution, size, general description,
reproduction (including information on captive breeding when
available), food preferences and aquarium requirements.The material also includes ratings on the authors' three
scales.This
general format is followed in the rest of the volume.The chapter is generously illustrated with excellent
photos, both from aquariums and natural settings, as well as
highly informative line drawings, as is the remainder of the
book. The coverage of the Tridacnids, a good part of which is contributed by Daniel Knop, probably contains the most up-to-date material you'll find on this important family.
Chapter
3, Echinodermata, contains 200 pages on this highly varied group,
including the sea stars, brittle stars, crinoids, urchins and sea
cucumbers.As in the
previous chapter the coverage is extensive, the material excellent and
highly valuable for aquarists, the photos superb and the line drawings
detailed and informative.
The
text proper ends with Chapter 4, Tunicates and Lancelets.This fascinating group contains many attractive and colorful, but
difficult to maintain members.The
same high quality of information and visual material that characterizes
the rest of the volume is here too, so those of you who wish to try to
keep these organisms will find the best available information on them
here.
In
conclusion, this volume maintains the high standards set by the previous
three in the series.For
the high quality of the biological and aquaristic material and the
outstanding photographic and artistic visuals, this book is truly one of
the most important "must haves" in the library of the advanced
aquarist.I congratulate the authors and their cooperating colleagues,
including Bruce Carlson and Daniel Knop among others, for putting
together this superb and beautiful addition to our knowledge base.
Aquaculture
in the News
A
front-page story in West Hawaii Today on December 16, 2002,
"Success at Kona hatchery," announced an important development
in the aquaculture of a highly valued aquarium fish, the Flame
Angelfish, Centropyge loriculus.Kona Blue Water Farms researchers have achieved the first known
rearing of flame angelfish in significant numbers at their hatchery
facility at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii.The research has been supported by a three-year project of the
Advanced Technology Program of Hawaii's Department of Commerce, devoted
to developing marine fish hatchery methods.
The
report states, "Although several others in Hawaii have produced
angelfish in the hatchery in ones and twos over the last year,
researchers believe this is the first time any angelfish species has
been successfully reared in significant numbers.... Kona Blue Water
Farms, a division of Black Pearls Inc., said there is great commercial
potential for producing flame angelfish - and other high value
ornamental species - in the hatchery to supply to the aquarium trade."
The report, reflecting the general hostility here to collecting local
reef fish for the aquarium trade, goes on to state, "Producing
these fish in the hatchery would alleviate the pressure on wild stocks
of tropical reef fish, which are targeted by aquarium-fish collectors in
Kona.Aquarium-fish
collecting has sparked controversy in the last few years, with
legislative moves to shut down the entire fishery and a compromise
agreement closing off over one third of the coastline to aquarium-fish
divers."
(As
I've reported, the strategy of creating closed "Fish Replenishment
Areas" is proving to be effective, with increased populations of
targeted species, primarily Yellow Tangs and other tang species, in the
FRA's.)
It
is my understanding that there are about 200 young Flame angels in the
current group.
NOAA
and the national Fisheries Services have developed a
document titled "Priorities for Effective
Management of Coral Diseases."They state in the summary, "Diseases and
syndromes of scleractinian corals and associated
species have increased in number in recent years, and
they are now recognized as important phenomena capable
of altering the structure and composition of coral
reefs....A
long-term, multidisciplinary research and monitoring
program for coral diseases is necessary to assist
resource managers in identifying and responding to
emerging coral diseases."
They
suggest: 1) an early warning system to predict and
identify disease outbreaks; 2) documentation of
distribution and variations of coral diseases; 3)
elucidation of relationships of environmental
stressors, anthropogenic impacts, and widespread
phenomena such as global warming on coral health,
disease, degradation and recovery; 4) development of
standardized terminology for diseases; 5) development
of molecular probes and other tools to identify and
verify pathogens; 6) identification of factors that
facilitate the introduction, spread and transmission
of pathogens; 7) long-term monitoring and targeted
research on the effects of disease on corals,
associated species, and ecosystem; and 8)
implementation of measures to mitigate disease
impacts, including strategies that reduce
anthropogenic stressors responsible for the
proliferation or spread of diseases and the
development of novel techniques to treat affected
corals and improve habitat quality.
