A vivarium (Latin, literally for "place of life": plural: vivaria or vivariums ) is an area, usually closed, to store and maintain animals or plants for observation or research. Often, some of the ecosystems for certain species are simulated on a smaller scale, with controls for environmental conditions.
A vivarium may be small enough to sit on a table or table, such as a terarium or aquarium, or perhaps a very large structure, perhaps outdoors. Large Vivaria, especially those holding organisms capable of flying, typically include some kind of dual-door mechanism such as sally ports to enter and exit, so the outer door can be closed to prevent escape before the inner door is opened.
In modern literature, the word is not widely used until a publication called "Vivarium", the first of its kind, was made by Phillipe De Vosjoli in San Diego, California to share information about the storage of reptiles, amphibians, and other terrestrial animals. prisoners.
Video Vivarium
Flora and fauna
There are various forms of vivarium, including:
- Aquarium , simulate water habitat; eg rivers, lakes or seas; but only the submerged areas of this natural habitat. The plants in the water will use some of the nitrogen present in the system, and will provide an area for the organism to hide and feed.
- Oceanarium , contains larger fish and marine mammals, such as sharks or dolphins.
- Insectarium , containing insects, arachnids, and other similar arthropods.
- Formicarium, with ant species.
- Terrarium , simulate dry habitats, such as deserts or grasslands. Terrariums can also be established to create a temperate forest habitat, and even habitats such as forests. These can be made with gravel, leaf litter and soil. By obscuring the terrarium, the natural water cycle takes place in the environment by the formation of condensation on the lid that causes precipitation. Many types of plants are suitable for this habitat, including bromeliads, African violets and Crassulaceae. Animals commonly kept for observation include reptiles, amphibians, insects, spiders, scorpions, and small birds.
- Paludarium , semi-aquatic enclosure that simulates rainforests, swamps or other wetland environments. It can also be seen as an aquarium interconnected with terrariums, having both underwater and beach areas.
- Penguinarium , contains penguins.
- Riparium , a new type of planted aquarium system that recreates wet habitats found along the banks of lakes, rivers, ponds and rivers. This zone has a marginal plant, which is rooted in saturated soil at the edge of the water, but holds its leaves in the air. Unlike paludariums, the riparium does not have a significant portion of land, making it unsuitable for most amphibians. Instead, they use a special planter that hangs on the side of the tank or floats on the surface of the water.
- Herpetarium , contains various species of reptiles and amphibians. Herpetarium may belong to another category of vivarium, depending on the natural habitat of the preserved species.
Maps Vivarium
Size and material
Vivarium is usually made of a clear container (often plastic or glass). Unless it is an aquarium, it does not need to withstand water pressure, so it can be made of wood or metal, with at least one transparent side. Modern vivarium is sometimes constructed of epoxy-coated plywood and fitted with sliding glass doors. Coating the inside of the plywood vivarium helps maintain the natural effects of the environment. Epoxy-coated vivariums plywood retains heat better than glass or plastic enclosures and is able to withstand high levels of moisture. They may be cubic, round, kuboid, or other forms. The choice of material depends on the size and weight desired of the entire ensemble, high moisture resistance, cost and quality desired.
The vivarium floor should have sufficient surface area for the species living in it. The altitude is also important for larger plants, vines, or for species of tree climbers. The width should be large enough to create a deep sensation, both for the pleasure of the audience and the kindness of the species in it.
The most commonly used substrates are ordinary soil, small pebbles, sand, peat, chips from various trees, wood mulch, vegetable fiber (coconut, for example), or a combination of these. The choice of substrate depends on the needs of plants or animals, moisture, risks involved, and aesthetic aspects. Sterile vivarium, sometimes used to ensure high levels of hygiene (especially during the quarantine period), generally has a very straightforward and easily removable substrate such as paper tissue, wood chips and even newspapers. Typically, substrates with a low nutrient content, high drainage is placed on a LECA base or layer of fake or stone, which retains moisture without saturating the surface of the substrate.
Environmental control
Exposure
Lighting systems are needed, always tailored to the needs of animal and plant species. For example, certain reptiles in their natural environment need to heat themselves with the sun, so various light bulbs may be needed to simulate this in a terrarium.
Also, certain diurnal plants or animals need a UV source to help synthesize Vitamin D and assimilate calcium. Such UVs can be provided by special fluorescent tubes or daylight bulbs, which recreate the reptile's natural environment and emit more natural sunlight effects compared to the blue light of the fluorescent tubes.
A day/night regulator may be needed to simulate with light and dark period turnover accuracy. The duration of day and night simulations depends on the conditions in the natural habitat of the species and the desired season.
Temperature
Temperature can be a very important parameter for species that can not adapt to other conditions than those found in their natural habitat.
Heating can be provided in several ways, all of which are usually controlled by thermostats: heating lamps or infrared lights, hot plates and heat pads, which provide heat at the bottom or terrarium side, heating cables or hot pads placed beneath the substrate. , hot rocks, or more complex equipment that produce or generate hot air to the inside of the vivarium.
Similar to illumination, a temperature drop may be necessary for simulated night periods, thus keeping living species healthy. Such variations should be coherent with those found in the species' natural habitat. Thermo-control systems are often used to regulate light cycles and heating, as well as humidity (coupled to a built-in fog or rain system). Light-dependent or photo-diode-connected resistors are often used to simulate daylight, night, and night light cycles, as well as timers to turn on the lights and heat and shut down when necessary.
Humidity
Many plants and animals have very limited tolerance to moisture variations.
The humidity setting can be done in several ways: regular water pulverization, water evaporation inside (from basin, or water circulation), or an automatic and moisturizing system.
Ventilation and openings
Access inside the vivarium is necessary for maintenance purposes, for caring for plants and animals, or for the addition and withdrawal of food. In the case of some animals, frontal opening is preferred because accessing the vivarium from above is attributed by several species to the presence of predators and hence can cause unnecessary stress.
Ventilation is not only important for air circulation, but also to prevent mold growth and the proliferation and spread of harmful bacteria. This is very important in warm and moist vivarium. The traditional method consists of placing a suction fan (or ventilation gap) at a low level and another exhaust fan at a higher level, allowing continuous fresh air circulation.
Gallery
See also
- Aquascaping
- Biome
- Biosphere
- Closed ecological system
- Ecosphere
- Ecosystem
- Wardian case
- Winogradsky column
- Micro Landchaft
- Ex situ conservation
- Botanical Gardens
- Warehouse
- Stable
- Green House
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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