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How I found out about the issue of montipora-eating nudibranchs for my research topic and my intended methodology
How I found out about the issue of montipora-eating nudibranchs for my research topic and my intended methodology
Discovery
Discovery
Towards the end of my junior year at Rock Canyon High School my aquarium was full of thriving Montipora corals. Soon I noticed damage on many of these corals, the white skeleton was left behind and you could see a clear band of receding flesh that receded more each night. After some research and investigation, I discovered that my tank was infested with the dreaded Montipora-eating nudibranch. Sadly there was no information on a cure, only anecdotal evidence on how to control them. I ended up losing almost all of my Montiporas, some I had for years grown from an inch fragment to a colony the size of a hand.
Because of my interest in reef aquariums, I had already known I wanted to do marine-related research. This treacherous event along with my ongoing battle against Phestilla Subodiosus helped me to decide what marined research I could do. Now I could aid in people's battles by increasing the scientific knowledge of this bug.
Current Research
Current Research
Very little scientific research has been conducted on Phestilla Subodiosus specifically, with only one paper recognizing it by name. This same paper is the one that identified the Montipora-eating nudibranch as a species, now databased as Phestilla Subodiosus. This lack of research leads me to look at research on similar nudibranch species such as Phestilla Sibogae and even examine non-scientific articles and reports.
Within the research specific to and mentioning the montipora-eating nudibranch or Phestilla Subodiosus. A group of researchers from the University of Hong Kong conducted a study titled "Phestilla subodiosus sp. nov. (Nudibranchia, Trinchesiidae), a corallivorous pest species in the aquarium trade." Here, Phestilla Subodiosus was recognized as a separate species, described physically and genomically sequenced. This was my first sight of the scholarly conversation surrounding this nudibranch. This study showed that these nudibranchs only eat specifically the Montipora genus of corals. After seeing the described physical appearance helping me to identify the Phestilla Subodiosus and ensure my nudibranchs are this species I moved on to more articles. From here I found another mention of the Montipora-eating nudibranch in Eric Bornemans article "Two Potential Molluscicides Useful Against Pest Aeolid Nudibranchs Common on Species of Montipora in Aquariums" Here I found the extent of research on the controls and aids in dealing with Phestilla Subodiosus. This study explores potassium permanganate and garlic extract as a chemical submersion or "dip" treatment for these nudibranchs. Each one was tested in only a few concentrations on a few corals in an uncontrolled environment. This was mentioned as a flaw and avenue for future research including testing different concentrations of either molluscide on a greater number of corals in a controlled environment so that statistically significant data is possible. With these being the only articles about Phestilla Subodiosus specifically, I chose to build through the self-described gap of chemical treatments and create a hopefully statistically significant result within a controlled environment. Because the research is so limited there is a gap of just about any research on this nudibranch species.
Methods
Methods
My methods for conducting this study were derived primarily from previous academic studies surrounding a prior investigation of Phestilla Subodiosus, an experiment of Acropora-eating flatworms (a coral pest flatworm), and even experiments with Phestilla Sibogae (another coral pest nudibranch). These various studies showed that my controlled environment needed to follow a described recirculating flow-through system, similar to what many hobbyists use. Investigation into the description of this system led me to determine that a fifty-gallon plumbed to a separate tank for filtration accomplished the goal of a recirculating flow-through system. The separate tank will hold the necessary mechanical and biological filtration elements. Drilled containers will also separate each set of corals to allow water to pass through while ensuring nudibranchs do not move from each group of corals. After understanding the needs of my controlled environment I had to find out how to apply each chemical treatment. For this, I turned to one previous study involving potassium permanganate and many online hobbyist forums. Here I determined each concentration for my four chemicals of potassium chloride, potassium permanganate, Coral RX, and iodine based on what many people in the industry currently use. Each concentration would be applied to the corals in a separate container, here the corals would sit in the concentration for a given time determined from what is currently used, which averages about fifteen minutes. After each dip, the corals will be rinsed and placed back into the controlled environment. Finally, I had to determine what data to analyze and how. Because this is the first study looking at the effects on these nudibranchs, I had to come up with the majority of my methodology for analyzing results. I wanted to determine the effect it had on killing and removing nudibranchs along with the effect on the eggs. To do this, I determined that a set number of nudibranchs would be added to each coral group. Before and after each dip the number of nudibranchs and eggs on the coral would be counted and determine how many were killed or removed. Finally, after a week the eggs on each coral would be looked at again and counted to determine the hatch rate after a treatment compared to one with no treatment. Lastly, the health of each coral would also need to be measured, to do this I decided to look at various factors including, bleaching, tissue necrosis, and polyp extension. All of these data points will be graphed and analyzed to determine the efficacy of each chemical solution and the effect it has.
Why?
Why?
aquaculture efforts and facilities are vital to not only provide products to a large industry but also necessary for reef conservation efforts. These nudibranchs prey on Montipora corals in any captive environment they have infested costing these facilities hundreds if not thousands of dollars and potentially slowing conservation efforts. Currently, there is no solution to get rid of these nudibranchs without an extensive and disruptive effort. An effective chemical treatment could help people manage and potentially eliminate the risk that Phestilla Subodiosus poses to coral aquaculture.
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