Cultivation method for rapidly constructing coral model and volume by adopting matrix embedding mode

Abstract

The invention discloses a cultivation method for rapidly constructing a coral model and volume in a matrix embedding mode. A material on which corals can grow is used as a base core, coral fragments are fixed on the surface of the base core by using environment-friendly biological glue, the distance between the coral fragments is 1-2cm, the coral fragments are arranged in a matrix mode, and then the coral fragments grow in seawater. By utilizing the epitaxial growth capability of the coral, a plurality of coral fragments can grow simultaneously, and the growth effect of the coral is accelerated; through rapid fusion growth of small fragments, the coral covering speed on the surface of the mold is increased; the use of parent coral resources is reduced, and the damage to a natural ecological system is reduced; a uniform illumination environment is provided to promote rapid and healthy growth of coral; the technology can be widely applied to the fields of artificial coral reef construction, ecological restoration, underwater landscape modeling and the like.

Description

Technical fields:

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of coral cultivation and underwater landscaping technology, specifically relating to a cultivation method that uses a matrix embedding method to rapidly construct coral shapes and volumes. Background technology:

[0002] Corals, as important functional organisms in coral reefs and underwater landscape components, perform important ecological functions and provide visual aesthetics for humans. In particular, the size and shape of reef-building corals are related to their survival ability and ecological service functions.

[0003] Large corals typically possess greater resilience to stress, such as resisting bleaching events or ocean acidification compared to smaller individuals. Larger corals can produce more larvae, aiding in the recovery of coral populations after ecosystem disruption. They also construct more complex three-dimensional structures, providing habitats and shelters for a variety of marine life, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, who rely on corals for predator avoidance, reproduction, and foraging. Large corals often hold a competitive advantage, and their growth can suppress the growth of other nearby corals or organisms. However, the large structure of corals also provides a wider living space for symbiotic organisms such as algae, tube worms, and small fish. Corals provide nutrients to the surrounding ecosystem by capturing plankton and secreting organic matter. Larger corals can capture more resources, attracting more species that depend on corals for food. Large corals play a crucial role in calcium carbonate deposition, contributing to the stabilization of the ocean's carbon cycle. The formation and accumulation of these coral skeletons are essential for long-term carbon storage. Large coral structures can alter surrounding water flow patterns, create buffer zones, help suspended matter settle, increase water transparency, and promote the distribution and growth of plankton. Larger coral individuals typically support higher biodiversity because they provide microhabitats and resources for diverse species.

[0004] The shape of corals directly influences their ability to provide habitat for other organisms, while also affecting the flow patterns of surrounding water, thus impacting sedimentation and nutrient cycling. The distribution of coral shapes also affects their ability to capture sunlight, optimizing photosynthesis with symbiotic algae. Furthermore, corals of different shapes collectively create rich underwater landscapes, their diverse forms offering beautiful scenery for divers and tourists, making them an important resource for tropical marine tourism.

[0005] However, the growth rate of corals is closely related to their species and shape. Some branching corals can grow about 10cm in length per year, while blocky corals only grow at a rate of 1-2cm per year. It takes five to ten years for them to reach a size of over 10cm, making artificial cultivation costly and time-consuming. This limits the rate of artificial coral cultivation and the size of corals available, becoming a bottleneck in coral reef ecological restoration, making it difficult to provide enough coral seedlings and appropriately sized corals. It also limits the quantity of corals cultivated and produced as ornamental organisms. In addition, the shapes formed by naturally growing corals are often beyond human control, making it impossible to create the structures and shapes required for landscaping. However, in the process of ecological restoration, the shape and size of corals are directly related to their important ecological functions. For example, larger corals can effectively reduce the impact of waves on the coast and provide more shelter and spawning grounds for fish.

[0006] In order to better restore coral reefs, restore their ecological functions, and meet the needs of creating coral landscapes, it is necessary to solve the problems of the long time required to cultivate large coral individuals and the difficulty in controlling their growth shape.

[0007] Purpose of the invention

[0008] This invention provides a method for forming coral individuals of a specific shape by arranging small coral individuals in a matrix and embedding them into the surface of a prefabricated substrate through growth and fusion. This method can significantly shorten the coral growth cycle, save parent coral resources, and achieve rapid shaping of specific shapes.

[0009] The present invention employs a cultivation method for rapidly constructing coral shapes and volumes using a matrix embedding method on a base core, comprising the following steps:

[0010] Materials such as calcium carbonate, cement, basalt, clay, and ceramics, on which corals can grow, are used as the base. Coral fragments are fixed to the base surface with environmentally friendly bio-adhesive, spaced 1-2 cm apart and arranged in a matrix, and then allowed to grow in seawater.

[0011] Preferably, the core is hemispherical, cuboid, or cubic.

[0012] Preferably, the spacing is 1 cm when it is a clustered helmet coral, and 1-3 cm when it is a Turtle Island Rose Coral.

[0013] Preferably, the environmentally friendly bio-adhesive is a cyanoacrylate adhesive.

[0014] Preferably, the size of the coral fragments is 0.5-9 cm. 2 .

[0015] Preferably, coral cultivation lights are evenly distributed on the top and around the coral to simulate a natural lighting environment, providing the light energy needed for coral growth, while using multiple light sources to promote uniform growth of corals on the mold surface.

[0016] The basic principle of this invention is:

[0017] 1. Utilizing the peripheral growth of corals (this peripheral growth is related to the coral's circumference; the total circumference of multiple small coral individuals is larger, therefore the peripheral growth rate is faster than that of a single large coral individual, allowing for more rapid growth).

[0018] By attaching individual corals of the same species to the surface of a pre-fabricated core, and utilizing the natural lateral growth capacity of corals, the living tissues of multiple coral individuals gradually fuse and embed in the core, forming a layer of living coral tissue surrounding the core. This, along with the coral tissue and the internal core, constitutes a larger living coral. Because the combined growth rate of multiple small coral individuals is higher than that of a single large individual, they can grow laterally more rapidly, thus increasing the overall coral growth rate.

[0019] 2. Coral fusion mechanism (when individuals of the same species meet, they can fuse together to form a larger individual. Therefore, fusion and extensional growth can accelerate the rate of forming a larger individual).

[0020] Multiple small coral individuals (or fragments, branches, or pieces) from the same species are fused together to form a single individual, leveraging the fusion ability of their homologous coral tissues. This characteristic, combined with the faster outward growth rate of the preceding smaller individuals, allows for more rapid coverage of the mold surface, ultimately resulting in a larger coral individual. Furthermore, the volume of the fused coral individual includes not only the coral tissue but also the core, achieving a greater ecological volume compared to relying solely on the growth of coral fragments to accumulate coral skeletons.

[0021] 3. Coral matrix spacing optimization (Experiments have shown that when the spacing between small coral individuals is too large, it weakens the fusion effect and outward growth. Other organisms can easily grow between coral matrices, inhibiting coral fusion and growth. It also causes the coral individuals to break apart, which can easily lead to slow coral growth and death.)

[0022] The spacing between individual corals in the coral matrix is ​​set at 1-3 cm. This reasonable spacing design ensures that the corals can grow rapidly and achieve fusion of adjacent tissues, maximizing efficiency and preventing algae and other organisms from encroaching on the space between the corals. Since corals initially grow outwards when they are small, and gradually increase in height and accumulate skeletons after reaching a certain size, the rate of outward growth decreases. Therefore, excessively wide spacing will delay the fusion of small coral individuals and also provide growth space for other competing organisms such as algae and sponges, increasing competitive pressure on the corals, affecting their growth rate, easily reducing coral growth rate, and even causing some small corals to die.

[0023] 4. Fragment size range (experiments have shown that corals used for growth that are too small are prone to high early mortality rates in corals);

[0024] However, excessively large individuals can weaken matrix fusion and encapsulation effects; the most efficient approach is within this range.

[0025] The size of individual corals should ideally be controlled between 0.5-9cm. 2 This approach ensures sufficient growth activity while conserving parent coral resources and reducing interference with the natural ecosystem.

[0026] 5. Enhancing the size and shape of the nucleus (Because corals have their own natural growth patterns in their natural environment, the shape of a single coral is relatively fixed during cultivation. However, small individuals tend to extend along the surface to expand their area in the early stages of growth. Therefore, this technology utilizes this characteristic to form coral individuals with a nucleus of a specific shape through the extension and growth of multiple small individuals. This results in coral individuals with a shape similar to the nucleus, providing uniquely shaped individuals for coral reef restoration and aquarium viewing, thus enhancing their value and ecological role.)

[0027] Using materials such as calcium carbonate, cement, and basalt—materials on which corals can grow—as a nucleus, the nucleus can replace the original calcium carbonate skeleton of the coral, increasing its volume more quickly. The shape of the nucleus affects the final shape of the coral individual. Furthermore, because the coral grows and fuses on the surface of the nucleus, its shape can be used to encourage the formation of individuals with specific shapes, contributing to the formation of individuals with specific ecological functions, or providing ornamental corals for the aquarium market.

[0028] 6. Adhesion technology

[0029] Environmentally friendly bio-adhesive is used to fix coral fragments to the surface of the mold, ensuring fragment stability and promoting fusion growth.

[0030] 7. Lighting System

[0031] The coral cultivation lights are evenly distributed on the top and around the perimeter to simulate a natural lighting environment, providing the light energy needed for coral growth. At the same time, multiple lighting methods are used to promote the uniform growth of corals on the surface of the mold.

[0032] Beneficial effects

[0033] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0034] a) By utilizing the growth and fusion of small individual corals arranged in a matrix on the surface of the core, the core can be embedded to form larger individual corals, and the shape of the core can also be customized to allow the corals to grow into individuals of a specific shape.

[0035] b) By utilizing the extensional growth capacity of corals, multiple coral fragments can grow simultaneously, thus accelerating the coral growth effect;

[0036] c) The rapid fusion and growth of small fragments accelerated the coral coverage rate on the mold surface;

[0037] d) Reduce the use of parent coral resources and minimize damage to the natural ecosystem;

[0038] e) Provide a uniform lighting environment to promote rapid and healthy coral growth;

[0039] f) This technology can be widely applied to artificial coral reef construction, ecological restoration, and underwater landscape design. Attached image description:

[0040] Figure 1 It shows clustered helmet-shaped coral fragments fusing together and beginning to envelop and embed the basement core, forming a cubic shape. The left side shows the coral just beginning to attach, and the right side shows the coral after it has grown.

[0041] Figure 2 These are individual coral fragments that have fused together to form an almost cubic shape, which can be used for underwater landscaping. The left side shows the coral just beginning to be attached, and the right side shows the coral after it has grown. Detailed implementation method:

[0042] The following embodiments are further illustrations of the present invention, but not limitations thereof.

[0043] Example 1:

[0044] In November 2023, the technical solution of this invention was used to cultivate blocky, clustered helmet corals at the Zhuhai Chimelong Coral Aquaculture Base. Specifically:

[0045] Environmentally friendly bio-adhesive (cyanoacrylate adhesive) is used to bond the blocky, clustered helmet corals (0.5-9cm) 2The corals are fixed to the surface of a cubic mold to ensure the stability of the clustered helmet corals and promote fusion growth. The mold consists of hollow cubic ceramic blocks made with a ceramic base; a comparison is made using flat ceramic tiles (1cm spacing). The spacing between each clustered helmet coral block is 1cm, 2cm, and 3cm, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 1 A. The coral fragments were then placed in the seawater of the aquaculture base for growth. Coral cultivation lights were evenly distributed on the top and sides to simulate a natural lighting environment, providing the light energy needed for coral growth. Simultaneously, multiple lighting methods were used to promote uniform coral growth on the mold surface. After 6 months of growth, the coral fragments began to fuse together. Figure 1 B) The coral volume increased nearly 14 times, which is 157.5% of the growth rate of the control group. Figure 1 C and 1D). However, fragments spaced 2cm and 3cm apart still could not fuse together after 10 months, failing to form a functional, complete individual. Figure 1 E, F, G, H).

[0046] Example 2:

[0047] In March 2024, at the Sanya Hainan Tropical Marine Biology Experimental Station, the technical solution of this invention was implemented on the surface-covered *Rhododendron guilloché*. Specifically:

[0048] Environmentally friendly bio-adhesive (cyanoacrylate adhesive) is used to coat the surface of the Turtle Island rose coral (0.5-9cm). 2 The material is fixed to the surface of a cubic mold. The mold is a hollow cubic ceramic block made from a ceramic base, in contrast to flat ceramic tiles (spaced 1cm apart). The spacing between the surface-covered Turtle Island Rose Coral pieces is 1, 2, and 3cm respectively, see [link / reference]. Figure 2 A. The corals were then placed in the seawater of the experimental station for growth. Coral cultivation lights were evenly distributed on the top and sides to simulate a natural lighting environment, providing the light energy needed for coral growth. Multiple lighting methods were also used to promote uniform coral growth on the mold surface. After 9 months of growth, the *Rhododendron guildense* corals in the experimental group fused together. Figure 2 Among groups B, E, F, G, and H, the 3cm group showed the largest volume increase, reaching 759.37% of the initial volume, which is 269.7% of the control group. Figure 2 (C and D). Furthermore, the coral envelops the basal nucleus, forming an almost cubic shape rarely seen in its natural state, thus achieving the desired shape.

Claims

1. A cultivation method for rapidly constructing coral shapes and volumes using a matrix embedding approach, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Using a material on which corals can grow as a base, coral fragments are fixed to the base surface with environmentally friendly bio-adhesive, spaced 1-2 cm apart and arranged in a matrix, and then allowed to grow in seawater.

2. The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The materials on which the coral can grow are calcium carbonate, cement, basalt, clay, or ceramics.

3. The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The core is hemispherical, cuboid, or cubic.

4. The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spacing mentioned is 1cm for clustered helmet corals and 1-3cm for Turtle Island Rose Coral.

5. The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The environmentally friendly bio-adhesive mentioned above is a cyanoacrylate adhesive.

6. The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The coral fragments mentioned are 0.5-9cm in size. 2 .

7. The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Coral cultivation lights are evenly distributed at the top and around the coral matrix.

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