Quantifying capture and ingestion of live feeds across three coral species

Optimal nutrition is paramount to the health of all organisms. Scleractinian coral species utilize a diverse range of feeding modalities and behaviours, and optimal heterotrophic feeding protocols may therefore vary between species. The described experiments assessed the capture and ingestion rates of the commonly used live feed organism Artemia by three Scleractinian coral species (Galaxea fascicularis, Pocillopora acuta, Acropora millepora; 3 genotypes per species). The described experiments were performed in a SeaSim aquaria-room (in the CMMG facility) using 2.5 L flow-through feeding chambers (2 L water), with water movement provided by a magnetic stirrer. For each coral species, Artemia were delivered at different densities, and results were acquired and compared using two distinct methods: the frequently reported capture rate method (an indirect method; Capture experiment), and direct quantification of Artemia preloaded with fluorescent beads in polyps after dissection (demonstrating ingestion; Ingestion experiment). This work was supported by AIMS appropriation funding for the project Coral aquaculture: nutrition, probiotics and health. The project built on previous AIMS research into coral nutrition and supported the development of RRAP-funded projects (CAD-1 Coral Propagation and Deployment and ECT3-2.2 Coral nutrition).最优营养对于所有生物的健康至关重要。石珊瑚（Scleractinian）物种的摄食方式与行为模式多样，因此不同物种间最优异养摄食方案可能存在差异。本研究所述实验评估了3种石珊瑚（分别为Galaxea fascicularis、Pocillopora acuta、Acropora millepora，每个物种设置3个基因型）对常见活体饵料生物卤虫（Artemia）的捕获率与摄食率。本实验在CMMG设施内的SeaSim水族实验室中开展，采用2.5升流通式摄食舱（舱内水体体积为2升），通过磁力搅拌器提供水体流动。针对每种珊瑚物种，实验设置了不同密度的卤虫投放梯度，并通过两种截然不同的方法获取并对比实验结果：一是学界常用的捕获率法（间接法，即捕获实验），二是解剖珊瑚虫后直接计数体内预加载荧光微球的卤虫数量以验证摄食情况（即摄食实验）。本研究由AIMS专项经费资助，支持项目为"珊瑚养殖：营养、益生菌与健康"。该项目依托AIMS过往在珊瑚营养领域的研究基础，同时为RRAP资助的多项项目（包括CAD-1"珊瑚繁殖与投放"以及ECT3-2.2"珊瑚营养"）提供了支撑。