Forums / TEAM Marine Depot / Corals and Coral Reefs - by Eric Borneman / Selecting herbivores for different algae / Latest Posts

RE: Selecting herbivores for different algae

charlesr1958 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:44:18 GMT

For algae, one must know what one has in order to try and select the herbivores that are capable of consuming it. Each algae species create and have chemical defenses against being eaten by herbivores or reduces the amount a single herbivore will consume at one time. Over the eons of evolution herbivores have had to develop the means in which to get around or tolerate such defenses which has created a balance (which is all to easily upset now) of each algae having a few specific herbivores being able to consume them without being put in danger of extinction by having all herbivores being able to consume them or consume them all at one "sitting".

I would love to be able to list out what algae species is consumed by specific herbiores but with thousands upon thousands of algae species and a great many herbivores (fish, slugs, snails etc.) it still leaves a huge amount of information to be learned. Which is why anytime I find such information, I hang onto it and pass it along as there is not a great deal we know of concerning what will eat what. Its getting better though., little by little.

Chuck

RE: Selecting herbivores for different algae

AboutMyReef777 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:27:08 GMT

So I will have to research the type of algae I have or bacteria growing in tank and relate to what part of the world is most present, or are we talking in our fuge like I use cheato? Or better yet can you explain the selections related to topic to pick from to do research

Thanks.

RE: Selecting herbivores for different algae

Eric Borneman — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:18:52 GMT

Extremely useful site, Chuck. I'm going to change the title and stick it at the top.

Selecting herbivores for different algae

charlesr1958 — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:34:22 GMT

While researching Kelp, I ran across a paper that linked to what I thought would be a helpfull website in selecting the proper fish species for specific algae species control. So in keeping with what should be proper/natural control of algae within a display tank while allowing a macroalgae refugium or turf algae scrubber to do all the work, this webpage ought to be of help.

http://www.incofish.org/herbitool.php

Chuck

Seaweeds preferred by herbivorous fishes - G. Tolentino-Pablico & N. Bailly & R. Froese & C. Elloran - Journal of applied phycology Nov. 2007