SIU farms coral to help imperiled ecosystems survive, explore aquaculture

October 30, 2024

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Much of the Earth's freshwater eventually joins with massive, salty oceans where it can deeply impact life in those marine systems. Amid farm fields hundreds of miles away, researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are growing coral, a beautiful and sensitive lifeform sitting in the nexus of these systems and their interactions.

The work may also improve methods of providing ornamental coral used in private aquariums, decreasing pressure on natural coral reefs, which are complex, living, underwater ecosystems providing food and shelter for a large variety of sea life.

Scientists at SIU's Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences came up with the idea to grow coral, an invertebrate animal, about a decade ago, just as construction was beginning on the initial phase of the Saluki Aquarium in 2012. The facility helped faculty merge research and teaching programs in aquatic ecology and aquaculture.

Saluki Aquarium currently houses about 10,000 gallons of research and display tanks. Officials hope to expand the facility, including a planned 9,000-gallon marine display and teaching aquarium.

Current active freshwater and marine research at Saluki Aquarium includes finding unique ways to identify the ages of walleyes, chemical signatures of movement in crayfish, toxicology of chinook salmon and culturing Atlantic silversides.

"SIU has research and teaching strengths in both freshwater and marine science," said Jim Garvey, director of the center. "The Saluki Aquarium is there to explore the connections between the two disciplines, of which the new coral farm is a centerpiece."

With its location near the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers - two major waterways with huge impacts on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem - the Saluki Aquarium provides the perfect research environment to explore complex linkages between freshwater and marine ecosystems. Southern Illinois itself, located far from ocean water, nevertheless plays an important role in its health.

"Water use in our farms and cities has direct impacts on marine life - including corals - downstream," Garvey said.

Aquaculture implications

Corals are endangered globally. But what may also be surprising to many people is that there is an enormous aquarium trade in ornamental corals around the world, Garvey said.

"Only a fraction of corals is farmed, with the remainder harvested from reefs," he said. "We built the coral farm in the Saluki Aquarium to test both basic and applied questions about coral growth and survival to improve coral aquaculture and reduce pressure on wild reefs."

Students are key

Ashlynn Shea, a junior in zoology from Kansas and president of the Saluki Reefers registered student organization, is the coral farm's primary caretaker, as well as the lead person on increasing student engagement in the project. She also conducts research related to the effort.

"I am working on looking at coral health implications with varying flow rates by observing morphological features and observing microbial colonies that make up the corals' gut," Shea said. "These microbes help feed the corals to survive and thrive in an ecosystem."

Shea said the work is providing her with hands-on experience with corals, as well as teaching her how to manage and take care of living organisms in a controlled environment.

"Taking care of any living organism, especially in an aquaculture facility, is difficult, but it's extremely more difficult and challenging with corals as they don't exhibit the same behaviors fish exhibit," Shea said. "Water quality is an extremely important aspect in any system, but even more in the saltwater coral systems. The water quality will dictate their survival, and if one thing changes overnight, it could result in disease and possibly death. Monitoring water quality is a highly important daily task."

Rare opportunities

Shea said the program opens windows for students interested in marine biology who are attending a school in the Midwest. She hopes to attend graduate school on the East Coast, where she will continue her research on coral reef conservation and health implications.

"The work I am doing here at SIU gives me the experience that I will need in my selected field. It's getting me experience that no one would have expected coming from Illinois," Shea said. "SIU is the only school in Illinois with an aquaculture program. The coral farm highlights just how important aquaculture is to the students and faculty. I truly believe that this program will set SIU apart from other schools."

Garvey said the coral farm is unique in allowing students hands-on opportunities to conduct research while learning about maintaining indoor marine aquatic recirculating systems.

"Corals have very specific water quality and lighting needs, so experience with this system will prepare them for jobs in public aquariums like the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago or aquaculture facilities on the coasts," he said.

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