蒂姆·韦格德（Tim Wijgerde）Coralscience.orgis building a mesophotic reef system, basically a low light reef. Tim dropped in to share with us why he decided to do a low light reef tank and what low light reef animals can teach us about traditional high light reefing.
CoralsCience.org目前正在构建一个将模仿中介礁区的系统。中间的珊瑚礁是光照区最深半半部发生的光（亚）热带珊瑚群落，因此几乎没有阳光。从30-40 m（100 - 132 ft）开始，并延伸至150 m（500 ft），由于其存在的存在，这些礁石几乎没有兴趣。它们居住在迷人的海洋物种中，其中大多数物种在海洋水族馆都无法生存。然而，新技术为建立可能具有无与伦比的海洋生物多样性的系统铺平了道路。
Mesophotic reefs are inhabited by highly interesting benthic species such as sponges, feather stars, bryozoans, tunicates, aposymbiotic (soft) corals and black corals. Stony corals also occur in the mesophotic zone, and they are the main contributors to mesophotic reef formation. Fascinatingly, these corals have adapted to this low-light environment.
为什么研究中性礁？
Mesophotic coral reefs are not only interesting due to their own specific assemblage of marine species, but also because they seem to serve as refugia for species occurring on the shallow reefs. Understanding and protecting these ecosystems therefore indirectly benefits shallow reefs. Mesophotic reefs are distinct from “true” deep water azooxanthellate coral ecosystems that occur at greater depths and are not light-dependent. Corals which grow in the mesophotic zone are still able to harness the sun’s energy, even though light levels may be as low as one percent of the light intensity experienced at the surface! Montipora and Leptoseris spp. have been found at depths over 150 m (500 ft), which rely on heterotrophic plankton feeding to a greater extent than their shallow counterparts.
非原位mesophotic珊瑚礁的研究也是一个possibility. That is, the study of such ecosystems in an experimental aquarium. Members of coralscience.org are doing just that. By establishing a system which meets the demands of marine species inhabiting the lower light zone, fascinating new discoveries about their biology can be made.
By utilizing recent innovations such as artificial plankton analogues (Golden Pearls), bacterial filters which immobilize excess nutrients (NP-reducing BioPellets) and advanced computer-controlled sand beds (DyMiCo or Dynamic Mineral Control, see www.ecodeco.nl), the setup of a mesophotic reef system is now possible.
这种系统的一个关键方面是保持高浮游浓度。过滤和悬浮喂养的动物没有与动物植物形成共生关系，这在很大程度上依赖于浮游生物的喂养，这就是为什么它们在当前过滤的海洋水族箱中持续很长时间。海洋通常被视为贫营养（营养贫穷），但在某种程度上不是。实际上，许多营养物质存储在细菌，浮游植物和浮游动物等活颗粒中。为了使圈养珊瑚礁蓬勃发展，其所有生物多样性都归结为提供高数量的细颗粒，这些细胞充当营养源，同时保持高水质。这根本无法通过使用带有活岩和蛋白质撇油器的标准柏林系统来完成。
最后，在这方面，在这方面，促进浮游生物积聚和高水质的水族箱的发展系统的发展对于成功的水族养殖是无数海洋物种至关重要的。在这种系统中可能会（性）再现，尤其是在没有机械过滤的情况下（一个例子是dymico-Technology）。这可能会大大增加以可持续的方式培养的海洋物种的数量。更自然的礁石展示也将吸引公众，并将促进教育和保护。一个含有无脊椎动物，例如海绵，黑色珊瑚，红丝和束缚的无脊椎动物的生态播放可能就是一个例子。阅读有关设置的更多信息mesophotic reef在www.coralscience.org上，旨在将海洋和水族馆科学传达给公众。
