Beyond The Reef

Jamie gives us a detailed breakdown of the work done at the Coral Spawning Lab and from his home, successfully and predictably rearing corals of many different species and genus. Jamie and Adam discuss the many trials and tribulations of his decades long research. We learn about settlement challenges, the reality of ‘spliced corals’, solutions for the future health of our coral reefs and much more! Jamie holds the position of Aquarium Curator and Living Collections Manager at the Horniman Museum and Gardens. He plays a lead role in the Coral Spawning Lab project. Before joining the Horniman, Jamie served as the Head Aquarist at the London Aquarium, where he deepened his fascination with coral biology. Additionally, Jamie gained experience as an underwater cameraman in Borneo, capturing the diverse species inhabiting the coral reefs of the Celebes seas.

Jamie Links:

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/people/jamie-craggs/

https://www.coralassistlab.org/jamie-craggs

https://www.coralspawninglab.org/

Frag Garage Links:

https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheReefPodcast

https://fraggarage.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/fraggarage/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLkiAJNqvoIRDRTFs34e6Tw

https://www.facebook.com/fraggarage

https://reefbuilders.com/2017/04/13/cali-tort-spawn-captivity/

Timestamps

00:00:00 Start

00:00:25 Episode Introduction

00:01:45 Episode Start

00:05:30 Colony Size

00:08:17 Adam's Cali Tort Spawn

00:10:10 Adam's SPS Spawn 2022

00:13:00 Hybridization and Timing

00:18:00 Singapore Broodstock

00:23:22 Cross-Section Analysis

00:27:00 Timing

00:35:00 Photoperiod and Temperature Tampering

00:49:38 Spawning and Rearing Coral in Aquariums

00:50:07 Sexual Reproduction in Corals

00:51:50 Broadcast Spawning Coral Life Cycle

00:55:42 In The Beginning 2012

00:58:18 Constructing Broodstock Colonies

01:01:02 Inducing Broadcast Coral Spawn Ex Situ

01:05:25 Lunar Cycles

01:08:00 Gametes Checks

01:12:13 Development Stages

01:17:18 Settlement

01:24:40 Symbiodiniaceae (zooxanthellae) Uptake

01:30:27 Fluorescent Green Protein

01:34:12 Grow Out - Survival Bottlenecks

01:36:30 CCA's and Surface Settlement

01:38:12 Co-Culturing to Maximise Spat

01:39:46 Survivorship – Role of Microherbivory

01:41:00 Sea Urchin Development and Treatments

01:48:42 Maximising Output

01:50:35 Closing The Life Cycle

01:51:18 Phase Shifting Spawning Seasonality

01:52:53 Assisted Evolution or Assisted Gene Flow

01:56:45 Interspecific Hybridisation

02:01:35 Mobile Spawning Labs

02:04:17 Ex Situ Spawning

02:06:02 Spawning in The Craggs Kitchen

02:13:00 Spawning Scolemia

02:19:39 Spawning Catalaphyllia

02:23:56 Spawning Micromussa Lords

02:25:17 Spawning Blastomussa Wellsi

02:25:48 Unique Power of Ex Situ Spawning

02:26:17 Spawning Galaxea

02:27:01 Inducing Multiple Spawn Each Year

02:27:34 The Future of the Hobby and Selective Breeding

02:29:22 Allogenic Reponses

02:31:56 Spliced Corals

02:38:14 Final Question and Closing

02:40:33 Outro

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Adam is joined by Daniel and Juno from Monsoon Aquatics, one of the largest exporters of Australian corals and fish. They discuss their sustainable methods for collecting and farming stunning corals from various regions of northern Australia and the Great Barrier Reef. Their conversation covers coral spawning research, advancements in optimizing flow and stability, fragging non-colonial corals, and their work in education, restoration efforts, and raising awareness. If you are a coral importer, you can set up an account by reaching out at: [email protected] . Be sure to watch this episode on YouTube, as it is loaded with photo and video content!

Monsoon Links:

https://monsoonaquatics.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/monsoonwysiwyg

https://www.instagram.com/monsoon_aquatics/

https://www.instagram.com/monsoon_coral_farm/

https://www.instagram.com/bundabergatmonsoonaquatics/

Frag Garage Links:

https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheReefPodcast

https://fraggarage.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/fraggarage/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLkiAJNqvoIRDRTFs34e6Tw

https://www.facebook.com/fraggarage

Beyond the Reef Merch!

https://fraggarage.ca/product-category/swag/

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Adam sits down with Chris Sebella for a casual conversation about the methods and techniques Chris uses to achieve his remarkable results in color, growth, and stability. As a long-time master of the reef hobby, Chris has produced many corals for Pieces Of The Ocean, a New York-based company. Check out the POTO website for some of the best corals in the game!

Chris and POTO Links:

https://www.instagram.com/sabellafellaaa/

https://www.piecesoftheocean.com/

https://reefnbid.com/

https://facebook.com/piecesoftheocean

https://instagram.com/piecesoftheocean

https://youtube.com/user/piecesoftheocean

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJX8SulPsvg

Frag Garage Links:

https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheReefPodcast

https://fraggarage.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/fraggarage/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLkiAJNqvoIRDRTFs34e6Tw

https://www.facebook.com/fraggarage

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Adam is joined by Dr. Samuel Nietzer and Dr. Mareen Möller: coral reproduction experts. Sam and Mareen met in 2008 during their undergraduate studies at the University of Würzburg. Their research collaboration began in 2010 with trips to Guam, USA, focusing on coral reproduction. They both earned their Masters, PhDs, and completed postdoctoral work at the University of Oldenburg under Prof. Dr. Peter Schupp, often traveling between Germany and Guam for Acropora mass spawnings. Since 2012, Sam has managed the research aquarium facilities at ICBM, and both continue their scientific work at the University. In December 2020, they achieved Germany's first planned Acropora spawning using a Spawning Lab LLC container, leading to multiple successful spawnings of over 10 Acropora species. Their research centers around understanding and improving upon the larval settlement stages. Sam works closely with Tropic Marin, who has supported and helped fund their research for the past few years. In 2024, they founded SciReef LLC, aiming to produce and sell 'Made in Germany' corals by the end of 2025, advancing both coral conservation and the aquarium market.

Beyond The Reef is brought to you by Fauna Marin!

https://faunamarin.de/

https://youtu.be/cdcxK2nn-hE?si=pCHzAKemgZMAJDHp

https://www.coralspawninglab.org/

More info on the work done by Sam, Mareen and SciReef:

https://www.scireef.com/

https://www.instagram.com/scireef/

https://uol.de/en/news/article/korallenforschende-erhalten-exist-gruendungsfoerderung-8861

https://uol.de/icbm/umweltbiochemie/aquarium/coral-spawning-in-germany

https://youtu.be/bcNvASqEhq4?si=KdHnbvc0hqOlcOmD

https://youtu.be/-NzquTyV_oo?si=30beTevZ7it4Lw1V

http://www.tropicmarin-usa.com

Frag Garage Links:

https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheReefPodcast

https://fraggarage.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/fraggarage/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLkiAJNqvoIRDRTFs34e6Tw

https://www.facebook.com/fraggarage

Beyond the Reef Merch!

https://fraggarage.ca/product-category/swag/

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Adam and Chris Meckley (ACI Aquaculture) create a ‘coral care guide’ for many of the common species we keep in our reef aquariums. Correct naming/classification, characteristics, lighting/par, flow/placement, special parameters, feeding/nutrients, fragging tips and ultimately, a difficulty level from 1-10. This is the first of a multi-part series, so stay tuned for more!

ACI Aquaculture Links:

https://aciaquaculture.com/

https://www.instagram.com/aciaquaculture/

https://www.facebook.com/aciaquaculture/

https://aquabrightsolutions.com/

Frag Garage Links:

Paypal: [email protected]

https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheReefPodcast

https://fraggarage.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/fraggarage/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLkiAJNqvoIRDRTFs34e6Tw

https://www.facebook.com/fraggarage

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.