The culture of different coral species within the same system may also affect the production of coral secondary
metabolites. However, to our knowledge, no study has
addressed this particular issue in the laboratory. Corals are
known to produce compounds that are extremely bioactive
(Rocha et al. 2011; Lealet al. 2013a), whose function is
usually attributed to competition for space and resistance
against fouling organisms. For instance, chemical extracts
from the asymbiotic coral Tubastraea faulknerikill larvae
of other coral species (Koh & Sweatman 2000). While the
latter study focused on a scleractinian coral, a larger and
increasing number of new bioactive molecules have been
discovered in soft corals (Lealet al. 2012). Therefore, the
combination of different coral species, either stony or soft
corals, should be assessed beforehand, to avoid a ‘chemical
war’ in the culture system and coral mortality (Fleuryet al.
2006). Although information on coral allelopathy applied
toex situaquaculture is still scarce, a retardation of growth
has been observed in the scleractinian coralPavona cactus
when growing in the vicinity of the soft coralSinularia flexibilis (Sammarco et al. 1983). Aggressive interactions are
also observed between soft coral species when in close proximity, such as S. flexibilis and Sarcophyton glaucum (La
Barreet al.1986).