Background

As many human undertakings, SECORE started with a vision. In 2001 marine biologists Dr. Dirk Petersen and Michaël Laterveer of Rotterdam Zoo (the Netherlands) started working together with a joint mission: the development of sustainable techniques for the sexual reproduction of corals. Primarily, the techniques were aimed at supplying public aquaria with live corals in a sustainable way. Over the years, it became obvious that the established techniques might also play an important role in future coral reef restoration.

Tropical coral reefs - the most diverse ecosystems in the marine world - are facing serious problems through human disturbance and climate change. Convinced that public aquaria and science together can offer a helping hand in coral conservation, SECORE was born in the beginning of 2002.

Focus

An important focus of SECORE is to establish captive coral populations using sexual reproduction - a pioneering way of reproducing corals. Contrary to fragmentation of corals (cloning), which is commonly applied in aquaculture and other fields, it has been impossible to control sexual reproduction under aquarium conditions for many years. The advantage of sexual reproduction is that genetic diversity is maintained, thereby ensuring a higher natural fitness of the corals under changing environmental conditions. Looking ahead towards a possible application in reef restoration or establishing coordinated breeding programs for endangered coral species, this is a very worthwhile perspective to work from.

Dr. Dirk Petersen has carried out his research in the marine laboratory of the Oceanium, the public aquarium of Rotterdam Zoo. In cooperation with the Dept. of Hydrobiology (University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany), the Marine and Coastal Research Centre (Ochanomizu University, Japan) and the Curacao Sea Aquarium (Netherlands Antilles), techniques were developed to safely handle large quantities of coral larvae for aquacultural purposes. Within three years, basic techniques were available to ship thousands of coral larvae between institutions and continents, to settle these larvae on specific substrate tiles and to raise them to juvenile corals.

By now, SECORE has grown into an international, independent platform improving and spreading practical skills and knowledge of sexual coral reproduction among aquarists and scientists.

Success

But the road to success doesn't end in Rotterdam. One of the primary goals of SECORE is to communicate the know-how and techniques of sexual coral reproduction to fellow workers in public aquaria around the world. Therefore, Rotterdam Zoo hosted the first SECORE workshop in 2005, where participants got the chance to work hands-on with coral larvae from different species in a fully equipped marine laboratory. Since then, a field workshop is organized in the Caribbean each year during coral mass spawning.

Primarily, public aquarium professionals and associated researchers join the SECORE workshop to practice coral breeding techniques and to develop a theoretical background on coral reproduction. With this basic equipment and the continuous support of the SECORE network, they can start their own undertakings in sexual coral reproduction. Today's workshop participants might be the initiators of breeding programs of tomorrow, working with corals from the Indo Pacific, the Caribbean or other reef regions of the world's oceans.

As a consequence of SECORE initiatives, more and more public aquaria and zoos are active in stocking their aquaria in a sustainable way. Building a bridge between science and the general public, they will transfer the message of the beauty and wonders of the coral reef accross to a broad audience, making their visitors more susceptible to issues in coral conservation.

Participants SECORE workshop 2007, Puerto Rico; source: Manon Laterveer - de Beer

Egg sperm bundle of Acropora palmata; source: Mary Hagedorn Primary polyp of Acropora tenuis settled on glass; source: Dirk Petersen

Research

The strength of SECORE also comes from renowned research institutes that increasingly join the network. Scientists realise that they can benefit from the practical knowledge of aquarists working with live corals. As one of the results of this fruitful cooperation, cryopreservation specialists, restoration biologists and geneticists are using SECORE for different research purposes, all directly related to coral conservation.

Histological sample of Pocillopora damicornis showing oocytes; source: Silvia Lavorano

Scientists may support and benefit from the synergy of the SECORE platform. Creating an inspiring working atmosphere for coral specialists around the world will enable them to exchange knowledge and experience for one common purpose: a healthy future for coral reefs.

The unique formula of SECORE combining high quality standards in coral husbandry and coral research, is acknowledged by more than 50 members from Europe, the USA and Japan. Since 2004 Rotterdam Zoo has found a valuable partner in Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in leading the project.