Techniques for the transport and maintenance of scleractinian coral

Several small scleractinian coral colonies were collected from a remote reef and transferred [to] the Louisiana Universities Marine Center (LUMCON) for in vitro reproductive and larval studies. The species used here were Porites astreoides and Diploria strigosa. Colony size was ~20 cm in diameter. Colonies were brought to the surface by liftbag and stored in modified ice coolers. They were transported from Freeport, TX to Cocodrie, LA by truck for nearly 15 hours where field conditions were simulated in waiting aquaria. This document describes the techniques and equipment that were used, how to outfit such aquaria, proper handling techniques for coral colonies, and several eventualities that the mariculturist should be prepared for in undertaking this endeavor. It will hopefully prevent many mistakes from being made.

Tracing sediment transport and bed regime in Nha Trang Bay

Three spatial structure groups of radionuclides in U and Th series, 210Pb-excess and 137Cs, and 40K were found based on analyzing temporal and spatial datum of their content by factor analysis with oblique rotation in Nhatrang bay. U and Th spatial structure with their contours decreased toward the offshore, ran longshore and divided seawater of bay into two parts with strong gradient on both sides. Inside part located from center of Nhatrang bay toward the seashore with three main deposit centers of their contents higher than 23 Bq/kg.dry for 238U and 40 Bq/kg.dry for 232Th, indicated unstability of shoreline. Almost sediments coming from river extended toward the offshore, were stopped and transported toward southeastern. The outside part was less than above mentioned content. The boundary line between two parts superposed with the constantly limit line of turbid plume in the rainy season. Direct influence of the continental runoff was limited by the 9 Bq/kg.dry contour of 238U, 19 Bq/kg.dry contour of 232Th. Longshore current was a predominant process whereas lateral transport as sifting and winnowing process of finer grains in sediments of Nhatrang bay. Areas that had very low content of 137Cs and 210 Pb-excess adjoining shoreline showed areas being eroded. Accumulation of 137Cs and 210 Pbexcess nearby river mouth characterized for fine compositions of sediments controlled by seasonal plumes and sites further toward the south indicated finer materials transported from river and accumulated in lack of hydrodynamic process. Near shore accumulation of 40K revealed the sediments there originated from bed erosion.

Viability of Penaeus monodon eggs after simulated transport conditions

P. monodon spawners, transported from maturation pens suffer from stress which in turn may lead to lowered spawning rate or fertility. Spawning the females in the maturation site and transporting the eggs to the hatchery site is being considered as an alternative. Egg transport costs may be reduced to a minimum by using eggs from ablated spawners, transported at high density with no aeration. Experiments on higher egg densities as well as on transport of nauplii should, however, be undertaken.

Transport of sugpo, Penaeus monodon juveniles

This study was made as an attempt to investigate the optimum packing density and the ice quantity suitable for the transport of Penaeus monodon juveniles. The results revealed that prawns of 40 mg size can be packed to as much as 3,000 per bag. While packing densities above 3,000 per bag containing 8 L seawater and 16 L oxygen can be used only for short transport periods. On the other hand in the ice-quantity experiment, mortality rate was less than 1% in all the bags containing 300 g, 600 g, 900 g and 1200 g of ice. A packing temperature of 20~’C must be maintained hence, 50 g of ice per hour should be allowed per box, counting from the moment the box is sealed to the time it is estimated to be opened.