本論文比較在中型生態箱(mesocosm,包含活砂、活岩、海水魚、其他珊瑚與無脊椎動物)和裸缸(只有海水)兩種養殖系統下,中間軸孔珊瑚(Acropora intermedia)和萼柱珊瑚(Stylophora pistillata)的光合作用和生長率以及尖枝列孔珊瑚(Seriatopora hystrix)的生長率,以了解不同養殖系統對珊瑚生理的影響。結果顯示,中間軸孔珊瑚在中型生態箱的光系統II的最高光效率(Fv/Fm)、葉綠素 a含量、共生藻密度與單位共生藻之葉綠素 a含量皆顯著高於裸缸;萼柱珊瑚在中型生態箱的Fv/Fm、葉綠素 a含量、共生藻密度皆顯著高於裸缸;而三種珊瑚的生長率變異較大,但珊瑚在中型生態箱的生長率幾乎顯著高於或等於裸缸;此外,各生理參數呈現差異的時間也與養殖時間有關。整體而言,生態缸對於長期維持珊瑚的生長速率有較好的效果,而裸缸則較適合短期實驗。
The purpose of this study is to understand the effect of culturing environment on physiology of reef corals. The experiment cultured separately three kinds of corals which included Acropora intermedia, Stylophora pistillata and Seriatopora hystrix in mesocosms (with sand, rocks, corals, invertebrates and fish inside) and tanks(only seawater inside). After a period of culturing, the photosynthesis and growth rate of coral nubbins could be measured and compared to emerge the difference of the two culturing environments. The result shows that the data of Acropora intermedia cultured in mesocosms which include the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll a concentration, zooxanthellae density and chlorophyll a concentration per zooxanthellae were higher than the data which were measured in the culturing environment of tanks. For Stylophora pistillata, the data of Fv/Fm, chlorophyll a concentration and zooxanthellae density were higher in mesocosms as well. In addition, the growth rates of three coral nubbins were varied in the same culturing environment but the growth rates of corals in the culturing environment of mesocosms were still higher or equal to the date in tanks. The difference between each of the physical parameter in two culturing environments emerged by time. Finally, using mesocosm to culture reef corals is effective in maintaining the growth rate, and the photosynthetic parameters are higher in the culturing environment of mesocosms. Therefore, the conclusion could be inferred that mesocosm is much suitable for the long period experiment, and tank is just applicable to short period experiment.