Temperate eco-sphere? Yeah I did it....

4PacNW wrote:I wouldn't worry about the shrimps if they are Heptacarpus sitchensis or something similar: I've seen them in tidepools with temperatures in the mid 20's (C).

J-P wrote:any chance of pics?

4PacNW wrote:How's this working?

4PacNW wrote:Well, here is my idea for a larger version of one of these. It is based partly on the fact that there are often much smaller species with the same or that have shared ecological roles, e.x. Oligocottus maculosus or synderi are almost structually identical to other larger sculpins, Leptasterias hexactis consumes mussels and barnacles amongst other things, as does Pisaster ochraceus. The second basis for this idea is that some species have very broad diets, an example being Fusitriton oregonensis which feeds on ascidians, urchins, bivalves, sea stars, brittle stars, chitons, abalones, and polychaetes. Thus they should be able to survive with smaller amounts of each prey available and enabling a greater diversity of organisms to be possible.

These are most of the species I had in mind for this:

Algae: Laminaria bongardiana, porphyra spp, cystoseira geminata.

Fish: Oligocottus snyderi, Anoplarchus insignis.

Mollusca: Snails: Fusitriton oregonensis, nucella ostrina, Chlorostoma funebralis, Haliotis kamtschatkana, Amphissa columbiana, Margarites pupillus, Trichotropis cancellata . Bivalves: Mytilus trossulus. Limpets: Tectura scutum, Nudibranchs: Hermissenda crassicornis, Aeolidia papillosa, Diaulula sandiegensis, Chitons: Mopalia muscosa, tonicella lineata.

Echinoderma: Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, Leptsterias hexactis, Amphipholis pugetana, Eupentacta quinquesemita, Parastichopus californicus.

Cnidaria: Anthopleura elegantissima.

Arthropoda: Cirolana harfordi, Idotea wosnesenskii, Mysids, Paracrangon echinata,Lebbeus catalepsis, Heptacarpus brevirostris, Heptacarpus sitchensis, Spirontocaris prionota, Cancer oregonensis, Lophopanopeus bellus, , Pugettia richii, Petrolisthes eriomerus, Phyllolithodes papillosus, Pagurus beringanus, Paguristes ulreyi.

Tunicates: Styela gibbsii, Boltenia villoa. Diplosoma listerianum,

Hydroids: Obelia sp.

Sponges: Neoesperiopsis rigida, Halichondria panacea.

Worms: Halosydna brevisetosa, Nereis vexillosa, Serpula columbiana, Eudistylia vancouveri, Eudistylia insignis.

Bryozoa: Bugula californica.

These are found in rocky intertidal - shallow subtidal outercoast semi exposed habitat i.e. with moderate current.

The largest species here is Fusitriton oregonensis with reaches a maximum length of 6" but matures at just over 3". The aquarium size required for this is unclear, my guess is about a 110 gallon with good current, it depends partly of the number of individuals required to maintain a population which is unclear, perhaps at least 8. Strong lighting is important for this obviously since there is no direct food imput. The maximum temperature for this is that of the urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, which is the most northern species, which is supposed to be 20 C. I would try for 15 C. Basically everything here has a predator to keep it in check, except adult Fusitriton and crabs however their varied diets should prevent them concentrating on and thus depleting any one species.