Estimation of the growth pattern of Baculogypsina sphaerulata (Foraminifera) in a tropical environment using a floating chamber method

Mass culturing of living sands (Baculogypsina sphaerulata) to protect island coasts against sea-level rise

“…These size structural traitssuggest a possibility of decreased growth rates and/or increased natural mortalities at sizes over approximately 1.5 mm 2 . Therefore,it is thought that the decrease in mean size observed in the culturing of the large-sized group is due to size-dependent mortality and/orgrowth limitation over 1.5 mm 2 , similarly to the natural population.In the small-sized group, individuals could grow up to a larger size, but the mean size (0.97 mm 2 ) was smaller than predictedby the growth equation of Hosono et al (2013). The mean growth rate in the small-sized group was reduced by the occurrenceof individuals with a restricted growth rate.…”

“…Growth in culturing conditionscan be evaluated through a comparison with the known growthpatterns of the species or with the size structure of a natural population. Hosono et al (2013) estimated the growth pattern of the species under experimental conditionsas a logistic equation:G=0.0065S(2.66-S) / 2.66), where G is the growth rate (mm 2 /day) and S is the size in area (mm 2 ). Based on thisequation, the mean sizes of cultured batches after 182 days are predicted to be1.09 and 1.95 mm 2 in the small-and large-sized groups, respectively.…”

“…Thistolerance could make it easy to culture and handle the species in artificial conditions. However, there are only a few studies reporting rearing experiments of the species, for example, photo-physiological experiments conducted overa few days (Fujitaand Fujimura, 2008;Hosono et al, 2012;Ziegler and Uthicke, 2011) or rearing experiments to describe its growth patterns over 2 months (Hosono et al, 2013).In the present study, we examined whether it is possible to rear B. sphaerulata for a long periodon a large scale. Specifically, we focused on the following points to evaluate the feasibility of culturing: (1) steady growth in culture conditions and (2) a new generation reproduced by the rearing batches under the culture conditions.…”

“…This competition was a major cause of failure in our preliminary culturing. However, constant disturbance with sand and water currents inhibitscyanobacterial overgrowth and allows a high survival rate (> 90%) of Baculogypsinawithin a small floating chamber (Hosono et al, 2013). Therefore, we attemptedto create constant disturbance using a combination of fine sands and current (Fig.…”

An Assessment of Photosynthetic Activity in Large Benthic Foraminifers and the Optimization of Light Intensity for Lab-scale Cultivation

“…Prior to this, however, the lab-scale cultivation of LBFs was essential for keeping specimens. Hosono et al [19] developed a rearing method for LBF Baculogypsina sphaerulata to quantify growth patterns in tropical areas. However, this study was able to culture B. sphaerulata for 57 d placed in Tuvalu [19]; there have been limited studies on the cultivation of LBFs.…”