11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

Poster Mini-Symposium 11: From Molecules to Moonbeams: How is reproductive timing regulated in coral reef organisms?
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Inferences Of Acropora Reproductive Synchrony And Spawning Phenology in The
Northern Line Islands, Central Pacific
Jean KENYON* 1
1 Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center,
Honolulu, HI
Little is known of the timing of reproduction in Central Pacific coral populations near the
equator. Oocyte pigmentation and size comparison with sizes of mature eggs reported in
published literature were used to infer intra-and interspecific synchrony and probable
spawning phenology in 15 species of Acropora from Palmyra and Kingman Atolls in the
northern Line Islands. Sampling at both atolls took place in March-April 2002 and 2004.
Oocyte sizes were determined from microdissections of fixed, decalcified samples. The
majority (91.2%) of samples (N = 209) were gravid, with high levels of fertility in most
(84.3%) samples. Statistically discrete oocyte size classes could be distinguished in most
taxa at each atoll in each year. These discrete oocyte size classes suggest that several
episodes of spawning, involving multiple species, take place over two or three months
beginning in early spring. These data, which are the first observations of coral
reproductive synchrony in the Line Islands, support the results of other recent studies,
suggesting that reproductive synchrony can be a feature of equatorial reef assemblages
where the annual ranges of sea surface temperature and tidal amplitude are small.
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Reproductive Characteristics Of Scleractinian Corals Form 2002 To 2007 in A
High-Latitude Coral Community At Nishidomari, Otsuki, Kochi, Japan
Takuma MEZAKI* 1 , Fumihito IWASE 2 , Shuu NAKACHI 2 , Yoko NOZAWA 2 , Tohru
HAYASHI 3 , Mai MIYAMOTO 4 , Miho WATANABE 4
1 Tohoku University, Tsu-city,Shiratsuka-cho, Japan, 2 Biological Institute on Kuroshio,
Otsuki town, Japan, 3 Diver, Osaka Higashisumiyoshi, Japan, 4 Tokai University, Shimizu,
Japan
In previous studies, detailed reproductive data have been mainly reported from tropical
and sub-tropical areas. These studies have provided information on coral sex
(hermaphroditism or gonochorism), mode of reproduction (brooders or spawners), and
timing of reproduction (seasonality, periodicity, and synchrony). In this study, we
recorded the timing of reproduction in addition to types of bundles and type of egg-sperm
clusters in situ. Field observations of spawning behavior of scleractinian corals at a high
latitude coral community at Nishidomari, Otsuki, Kochi, Japan were carried out annually
from early to late summer in 2002 to 2007. Spawning of 35 species from 15 genera, 6
families were observed, starting from the end of June to the beginning of September. The
majority of observed species were hermaphroditic broadcast spawners except for
Micromussa amakusensis (Veron, 1990) and Acanthastrea echinata (Dana, 1846). These
species seemed to be releasing only egg clusters but we could not find colonies releasing
only sperm. Both Montastera valenciennesi (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848) and
Goniastrea aspera Verrill, 1905 were found to have two types of releasing clusters within
the same species. One type was release of a single cluster from individual corallite and
the other type was, release more than five smaller clusters from a singe corallite. These
types had distinguishable skeletal differences. Hence this paper reports on the
reproductive information on the 35 coral species over a period of 6 years and show that
the reproductive data for each coral species can be one of significant aspect in coral
taxonomy to identify range of skeletal variation in a local area.
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Observations on the coral reproduction in Tuticorin coast of the Gulf of Mannar,
Southeastern India.
Edward JK PATTERSON* 1 , K. DIRAVIYARAJ 1 , T. THINESH 1
1 Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin, India
The pattern of reproduction was studied in the branching corals along Tuticorin coast of the
Gulf of Mannar during 2006-’07. Extensive survey was conducted to monitor maturity stages
and spawning. Visible gametes were observed from January onwards and the reproductive cycle
ends in March when they spawn. Acropora cytherea showed immature colonies in January
(63%) and February (71%) and matured colonies in March (73%). Likewise, the other species
showed 50 to 75% of immature colonies in January and an increase of 10% to 20% in February,
and matured in March. The average percentage of matured colonies was as follows, A. formosa
75%, A. valenciennesi 74%, A. intemedia 77%, A. nobilis 66%, A. micropthalma 59%, A.
hemprichi 84%, A. hyacinthus 75%, A. corymbosa 64%. The gametes of Montipora sp. do not
have a colouring pattern, but 30 to 90% colonies were with visible gametes during January to
March. Spawning was observed in A. cytherea on 24 th March 2006, 10 days after full moon and
28 th March in 2007, five days prior to full moon. Approximately 30,000 bundles were observed
in 1 liter of water and each bundle had 20-25 eggs. The physico-chemical parameters were
believed to play lead role in coral spawning, in particular the sudden rise in temperature at the
end of March.
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Gametogenesis Of Six Scleractinian Corals in The Celebes Sea
Sascha B.C. ROMATZKI* 1 , Andreas KUNZMANN 1 , Sebastian SCHMIDT-ROACH 1
1 Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT), Bremen, Germany
Sexual reproduction of scleractinian corals is divided into brooding and broadcast spawning
species. Brooding corals are expected to be able to release planulae all year around with
multiple gametogenic cycles Most broadcast spawners release their sexual products often
simultaneously within a time frame of just a few days during a more specific time of a year.
Broadcasting species usually breed annually but biannually is also reported in some cases.
Previous studies showed that Reproduction time as although mode can be different by
geographical distribution within species.
The Celebes Sea is one of the world richest areas in coral diversity. Spatial and temporal
variability in reproduction of coral species from the South-East Asian region is still relatively
undescribed. For this study we collected samples of branching scleractinian corals from reefs in
North-Sulawesi, Indonesia. The sampling was conducted in 2-weekly intervals from March
2006 to May 2007.
We collected samples of Seriatopora hystrix, Galaxea horrescens and A. brueggemanni, which
are formerly known as brooding species. Pocillopora verrucosa, Acropora pulchra and A.
yongei were chosen as representatives of broadcast spawners. All collected samples were
examined for their gametic cycle by using standard histological examination. The maximum
egg and planula size is used for determination of the gametogenesis stage. The purpose of this
study is to determine the mode and timing of reproduction in these species for an equatorial
South-East Asian coral reef with a special focus on biannually spawning ability.
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