The National Sea Simulator (SeaSim) supports the propagation of a range of marine organisms, including corals, sponges, and Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS).
Utilising advanced infrastructure, SeaSim replicates natural spawning conditions, making it an invaluable resource for studying reproductive processes and early-history of marine invertebrates. SeaSim’s proximity to the Great Barrier Reef ensures easy access to reproductively viable specimens, offering unique opportunities for rigorous and innovative research.
Mass Coral Spawning
Mass coral spawning is a remarkable natural event where multiple coral species synchronise the release of sperm and eggs, resulting in free-swimming larvae that eventually settle to form new coral colonies. This annual event, typically occurring after the full moon in October, November, or December on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), is critical for the replenishment of coral ecosystems. For researchers, it provides a narrow, yet vital window to collect larvae and study the reproductive biology of corals.
At SeaSim, over 250 colonies from around 25 coral species are successfully spawned each year, producing more than 15 million larvae for research. The facility’s sophisticated larval rearing and settlement systems enable researchers to settle over 100,000 larvae per day on a range of experimental substrates. These capabilities allow researchers to conduct experiments on coral larvae and juveniles, exploring the impacts of climate change, marine pollution, and sedimentation on coral development.
Research Collaboration and Spawning Activities
SeaSim attracts a global community of researchers, particularly during the GBR coral spawning season. Scientists from various institutions collaborate with AIMS staff, contributing to high-profile projects that aim to:
- Understand climate change impacts on coral health and the heritability of heat stress tolerance.
- Enhance coral resilience through selective breeding and symbiosis with heat-tolerant microalgae.
- Investigate the effects of dredging, sediments, and water quality on coral reproductive processes.
- Explore environmental cues that influence coral settlement and recruitment.
- Develop new conservation tools, including cryopreservation of GBR corals.
- Understand the environmental drivers of COTS outbreaks.
Advancing Coral Aquaculture for Reef Restoration
AIMS’ science teams, SeaSim staff, and collaborators are pioneering large-scale coral aquaculture techniques aimed at restoring degraded reefs. These methods are designed to maximise coral survival in the wild while being cost-effective. SeaSim’s technology platform and expert staff create an ideal environment for developing novel aquaculture systems that can scale to meet the needs of GBR restoration efforts.
AIMS scientists and collaborators are focused on researching reef recovery, adaptation and restoration for a warming future. This work is primarily driven by two major programs – the Australian Government-funded Reef Restoration and Adaptation (RRAP) Program and the Australian Coral Reef Resilience Initiative.
To streamline coral spawning and rearing, SeaSim is providing the platform and technical expertise to assist in the development automated systems to handle large numbers of young corals, speeding up tasks and reducing costs. For instance, through the RRAP program systems are being designed to automate the collection of eggs and sperm from spawning adults, replacing labour-intensive processes. Additionally, robotic systems are being created to monitor and assess coral recruit survival and growth. In the future, robotic systems are planned to assist in transporting and placing thousands to millions of young corals onto reefs. The range of innovative approaches used by scientists and engineers to boost large-scale coral aquaculture are underpinned by SeaSim’s size, technical sophistication, and expertise of staff across multiple disciplines.
Innovations in Out-of-Season Spawning
Traditionally, research development around coral spawning has been limited to a single annual event, constraining progress. In recent years, SeaSim’s advanced capabilities and staff expertise have been leveraged to manipulate lighting and temperature enabling the facility to shift the seasonal cues of seven coral species. As a result, corals have been successfully induced to spawn out of sync with natural cycles, with 72 corals spawning six months earlier than they would in the wild. This out-of-season spawning, which is now routine at SeaSim, provides scientists with multiple opportunities throughout the year to work with coral larvae and refine experiments, significantly accelerating research outcomes.
These advancements are particularly crucial for research into coral adaptation and aquaculture, where timely interventions are essential in the race to develop effective conservation strategies. SeaSim’s pioneering work in out-of-season spawning and large-scale aquaculture is at the forefront of efforts to safeguard coral reefs for future generations.
