Some facilities run a sophisticated coral spawning programme that moves a single genetic line from parent colonies all the way to deployment on the reef. There is no single button for this whole programme in the Australian Wildlife Traceability System (AWTS) mobile app, but you can achieve it by running the standard actions in the right order. This article is an example of how to combine the Breed Coral, Receive Coral, Create Order and Pack Order actions into one end-to-end spawning and deployment flow. Each stage below links to the full action article, so follow that article for the detailed steps and use the notes here for what is specific to this flow.
Note: This is an example flow, not a fixed process. The exact tanks, locations and units (for example settlement tiles and spigots) depend on how your facility is set up, so adapt the stages to your own programme.
The six stages at a glance
This example spawning flow has six stages, from capturing the spawn through to deploying coral on the reef. Each stage reuses one of the standard AWTS actions:
Stage | AWTS action used |
1. Capture the spawn | Breed Coral |
2. Capture the larval stage | Breed Coral (split) |
3. Settle larvae on tiles | Breed Coral (split) |
4. Move tiles to grow out | Receive Coral |
5. Plan the deployment/sale | Create Order |
6. Deploy to the reef/sell | Pack Order |
Stage 1: Capture the spawn
In stage 1 you capture the spawn using the Breed Coral action to create a spawning batch. Scan the parent colony tags as the input, then identify the spawn by scanning one Spawn ID as a QR code for the output. On the Create spawning batch screen, set the Location field to the fertilisation tank.
What you scan or set | Value |
Scan input | Parent colony tags (RFID) |
Scan output | Spawn ID (QR code or visual ID) |
Location | Fertilisation tank |
Important: Setting the Location to the fertilisation tank moves both the spawn output and the parent colonies into that tank. The parent colonies are not consumed, so after they have spawned, use the Receive Coral action to move them back to their own tank.
For the full steps, see How do I record coral breeding and create a spawning batch? For scanning help, see How do I choose or change my scanning method (RFID, QR or Visual ID)?
Stage 2: Capture the larval stage
In stage 2 you capture the larval stage using the Breed Coral split flow. Open Breed Coral, select Scan existing batch, scan the Spawn ID (QR code) as the input, tap Split batch, then scan one or many Larval IDs (QR codes) as the output. On the Scan plate fragments screen, set the Location field to the larval tank.
What you scan or set | Value |
Scan input | Spawn ID (QR code) |
Scan output | Larval ID(s) (QR code) |
Location | Larval tank |
Setting the Location moves the Spawn ID and the Larval IDs to the larval tank, so you do not need a separate Receive Coral action. If you need a different tank, use Receive Coral afterwards.
Tip: If you plan to reuse the same Spawn ID later to link more larval batches, scan the Spawn ID into the output here as well, so it is not used up.
For the full steps, see How do I split a spawning batch into sub-plates?
Stage 3: Settle larvae on tiles
In stage 3 you settle the larvae onto tiles using the Breed Coral split flow again. Open Breed Coral, select Scan existing batch, scan the Larval ID (QR code) as the input, tap Split batch, then scan one or many Tile IDs (RFID) as the output. On the Scan plate fragments screen, set the Location field to the settlement tank.
What you scan or set | Value |
Scan input | Larval ID (QR code) |
Scan output | Tile ID(s) (RFID) |
Location | Settlement tank |
Setting the Location moves the Larval ID and the Tile IDs to the settlement tank, so you do not need a separate Receive Coral action. If you need a different tank, use Receive Coral afterwards.
Tip: If you need to keep using the Larval ID, scan it into the output here as well, so it is not used up.
For the full steps, see How do I split a spawning batch into sub-plates?
Stage 4: Move tiles to grow out
In stage 4 you move the settled tiles to the grow-out tank using the Receive Coral action. Scan each Tile ID (RFID), then choose the grow-out tank as the Receive at location. Because you already own the tiles, this is a within-facility relocation: the AWTS updates the location only, with no change of owner.
What you scan or set | Value |
Scan input | Tile ID (RFID) |
Receive at location | Grow-out tank |
Result | Location updated, no change of owner |
For the full steps, see How do I receive coral on the AWTS mobile app? For moving coral between tanks, see How do I move coral between tanks within my facility?
Stage 5: Plan the deployment / sale
In stage 5 you plan the deployment / sale by creating an Order. An Order in the AWTS records a movement of coral from one location to another. For this flow, set the Order's origin to the tank holding the spigots and its destination to the reef deployment location. This stage is planning only: you define the origin and destination but do not attach any spigots yet.
Order setup | Value |
Origin | Tank holding the spigots |
Destination | Reef deployment location |
Attach specimens | Not yet, you attach them in Stage 6 |
You can create the Order on the device with Create Order, or on the desktop web app.
For the full steps on the device, see How do I create an order on the AWTS mobile app? To create the Order on the desktop web app, see How do I create an Order?
Stage 6: Deploy to the reef / sell
In stage 6 you complete the deployment or sale using the Pack Order action. Open the Order you planned in stage 5, select the order line, scan each Spigot ID (RFID), then tap Add to Order. Select the order line before you scan, so each spigot lands on the correct line. Packing records the spigots leaving the tank and being deployed at the reef, completing the flow.
What you scan or set | Value |
Scan into order | Spigot ID (RFID) |
Order line | Select before you scan |
Result | Spigots recorded as deployed at the reef |
For the full steps, see How do I pack an order on the AWTS mobile app?
What this flow achieves
Running these six stages in order builds an unbroken chain of custody in the AWTS, from the parent colonies, through the spawn, larvae and settled tiles, to the coral deployed on the reef. Because the Breed Coral steps set the location as you go, you need fewer separate Receive Coral actions, and every step is recorded as a traceability event you can view on the desktop web app in the Product List.