Little was known about host anemones until Australian researcher Dr Anna Scott began studying the habits of wild anemones for her PhD. Not only did Anna learn about the reproductive habits of wild anemones, but she's been able to culture them in captivity as well. This project has international significance because the captive breeding of anemones may eventually supply the aquarium trade with enough specimens to reduce the need for collecting them in the wild. SACF contributed funding to help Anna save Nemo's home. 

The movie Finding Nemo has made the anemonefish (also known as clownfish)  popular pets for the home aquarium. However clownfish need host anemones to live in, so the increase in popularity has put wild anemones at risk of being over-exploited in parts of the Info-Pacific region. Dr Anna Scott writes: 'There are just over 1,000 species of sea anemone; however of these only 10 are known to provide a home for anemonefish such as 'Nemo'. Due to the unique and fascinating interactions between the anemonefish and their host anemones these animals are highly prized for the aquarium trade. More than 500 species of invertebrates (other than corals) are traded as marine ornamentals, with the best estimates of global trade ranging between 9 and 10 million animals per year. Host anemones account for approximately 10% of all invertebrates traded. As very little is known about how these host anemones reproduce, all animals are taken form the wild. Their wide-scale and unregulated exploitation from reefs surrounding a number of developing communities is having dramatic consequences. Collecting anemones depletes local anemone populations and threatens their existence in some areas of the Indo-Pacific. Anemone collection also has severe consequences for the anemonefish, as they cannot survive in the wild without their anemone homes.'

Anna's Research

Anna Scott, who is based at the National Marine Science Centre in Australia, has provided the first scientific description of how these sea anemones sexually reproduce. Anna has described how two of the most popular anemones in the aquarium trade spawn and develop into juvenile anemones. Predictable spawning periods have been observed, with male and female anemones releasing sperm and eggs into the water, where external fertilisation and development into small swimming larvae takes place. After 3 to 5 days in the water, these larvae begin to settle on the substratum where they grown into juvenile anemones. Juvenile anemones have been successfully raised in aquaria, and are now over 4 years old.

Future Directions and Project Significance

Prior to Anna's research, conservation efforts for these species were constrained by the lack of information on key life history characteristics. Anna is now establishing reliable cost-effective culture techniques that produce large numbers of juvenile anemones.  

This project has both national and international significance as the mass culture of host anemones has the potential to supply the aquarium trade with animals bred in captivity. This would reduce collecting pressures on wild populations, as well as creating a new and ecologically sustainable industry that would provide employment and income for coastal communities. The reduction of anemone removals would also reduce the indirect effects on anemonefish populations. Mass culture would also allow the restocking of reefs that have already been impacted by human and natural disturbances.

To find our more on Anna's research see the following publications:

Scott and Harrison 2007

Scott and Harrison 2007b

Juvenile development