Weekly Discussion Thread - Biotopes

OneDummHikk · 07-01-2008, 08:42 PM

What are the different biotypes ?
What differentiates the different biotypes?
Are there any differences in care requirements for different biotypes?

tbittner · 07-01-2008, 08:59 PM

That is a good discussion question. I'm not sure what you mean by "What are the different biotypes".

But I might be misunderstanding your definition of Biotype. I'm thinking of the biotype, or biotope, that emulates the natural habitat of the animals we would like to keep.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biotope

In that case, I don't know that there are a certain number of biotypes. I guess on a much higher level you could define it as Freshwater, Brackishwater, and Saltwater.

OneDummHikk · 07-01-2008, 09:16 PM

With regards to the Biotope (I will get a Mod to correct the Title) it is almost precisely what the wikipedia article describes it as:

Quote:

Biotope aquarium
The term "biotope" is also used by aquarium hobbyists to describe an aquarium setup which tries to simulate the natural habitat of specific fish. The idea is to replicate conditions such as water temperature, natural plants, water type (fresh, saline or brackish), lighting, and other native fish which represent a particular real-world biotope. An example of one South American biotope type might be lots of bogwood, a few native plants, with dark substrata and subdued lighting with floating plants, along with marbled hatchets, angels, cardinals, ottos, corys and plecostomus.

I should have included that in the original post.

dobejazz · 07-01-2008, 09:20 PM

Lagoonal and reef top are 2 that come to mind for me

OneDummHikk · 07-01-2008, 09:29 PM

What makes a lagoonal a lagoonal and what makes a reef top a reef top? What is the difference, and, what are the different requirements for caring for a lagoonal reef versus a reef top reef setup?

Kathywithbirds · 07-01-2008, 09:30 PM

Are we talking about, like, say, making an Indonesian-type reef with fish & inverts from that area only? I always wanted to see someone try that -- get just animals & critters that would "naturally" be in the same neighborhood in the wild.

OneDummHikk · 07-01-2008, 09:34 PM

Pretty much Kathy. I know Gwaco has what he calls a "CAG" tank. Caribbean, Atlantic, Gulf tank. Nothing pacific or indo in the tank.

tdwyatt · 07-02-2008, 01:37 AM

Several different reef biotopes that I could think of:

Indonesian Fore reef
Reef top/algal ridge
Lagoonal
Tidal flat/back reef
Littoral channels
Bomme ( http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bombora )
Temporate reef
Deep water reefs
Cold water reefs
Sea grass beds
--not to forget that there are different biotopes based on location, for example Caribbean Vs. Indo-Pacific, etc.
--I am not aware of the existance of these for corals, but possibly estuaries as brackish water biotopes for corals...

I'm sure there are other more unusual coral reef biotopes, as well as a plethoa of diverse marine biotopes of both plain and unusual natures. I have a great book on Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Biotopes (not coral), as well as a microbial marine Ecology book (Kirschmasn) that deals with several microscopic marine biotopes found in reef sediments (a group of microbial biocoenosis is the basis for denitrification in both sewage treatment and in closed system aquarium denitrification as well as deammonification in live rock and bioball biofilitration) and the pelagic microcosms of the water columns.

Lots of great material to read about on the topic, I am always looking for new articles on the subject and how interaction function within these biotopes as specialized ecologies.

Biotopes pretty much define the different coral reef habitats that corals live in as communities, and may differ in population composits based on various factors ranging from nutrient loads in the water column (eutrophic vs mesotrophic vs oligotrophic), current flow, tidal influences, stability of the average depth, exposure to the atmosphere, stability of both temp and salinity, the actual composition of the populations themselves (octocorals vs. stony corals), turbidity of the water, depth of the water, and seasonal variations in both plankton and nutrient upwelling among the many factors that affect these habitats (not to mention anthropomorphic effects)

More info, see the following tease: http://www.reefresilience.org/r2cora...htm/c4_005.htm for a brief description of some coral habitats, more later.

A great pair of books would be the Tomas Tomasick's 2 volumes on Indonesean Reef Ecology, but they are very hard to find (those of you near me can come by and look them over, great finds if you can locate a source selling them).

Sorry to not really provide any meat for the topic, just wanted to follow along with the discussion.

chrischris · 07-02-2008, 01:44 AM

reef clif/reef wall protects the rest of the reef from on cmeing surges that would shatter most coral
i think care is kinda all the same because there all reefs they may differ a little though

OneDummHikk · 07-02-2008, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdwyatt

I have a great book on Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Biotopes (not coral), as well as a microbial marine Ecology book (Kirschmasn) that deals with several microscopic marine biotopes found in reef sediments (a group of microbial biocoenosis is the basis for denitrification in both sewage treatment and in closed system aquarium denitrification as well as deammonification in live rock and bioball biofilitration) and the pelagic microcosms of the water columns.

A great pair of books would be the Tomas Tomasick's 2 volumes on Indonesean Reef Ecology, but they are very hard to find (those of you near me can come by and look them over, great finds if you can locate a source selling them).

ISBN on the books?

tdwyatt · 07-02-2008, 02:34 AM

A few additional volumes as well:

Algae--An Introduction to Phycology, C. Van Den Hoek, D. G. Mann and H. M. Jahns: Cambridge University press, 2002, ISBN 0-521-31687-1.

Seaweed Ecology and Physiology, Lobban, C.S., and Harrison, P. L.: Cambridge University Press, 1997, ISBN 0-521-40847-0.

Microbial Ecology of the Oceans, Edited by Kirchman, David L.: Wiley-Liss, 2000, ISBN 0-471-29992-8.

Coral Reef Ecology, Sorokin, Yuri I.: Springer-Verlag, 1995 (hint, check german publisher houses), ISBN 3-540-60532-0

The Ecology of the indonesian Seas -Part One, Tomascik, Tomas, et. al.: Periplus Editiions, 1997, ISBN 962-593-078-7 (HARDBACK).

The Ecology of the indonesian Seas -Part Two, Tomascik, Tomas, et. al.: Periplus Editions, 1997, ISBN 962-593-163-5 (HARDBACK).

The Ecology of Deep=Sea Hydrothermal Vents, Cindy Lee Van Dover: Princton University Press, 2000, ISBN 0-691-04929-7.

I might point out that these are not beginner biology books, neither will they be inexpensive. To get the gist of these textbooks, you need a good basic understanding of invertebrate Zoology, microbiology, college-level botany and college-level biology in particular, and a good background in biochemistry will help as well, as most of these books have very in-depth chapters on the chemistry of the physiologies of these organisms covered in each text. I don't want to discourage folks from acquiring these books, but without the prerequisite knowledge of the sciences needed for good comprehension of these great reads, they will become dust collectors on your bookshelves rather than well-used and well-thumbed references. I also have to add though, that they are awesome text for you geeks like me out there that enjoy learning for the sake of learning...