Baird, A.H., Marshall, P.A., and Wolstenholme, J. (2002) Latitudinal variation in the reproduction of Acropora in the Coral Sea. In: Proceedings of the Ninth International Coral Reef Symposium (1) pp. 385-390. From: World Coral Reefs in the New Millenium: bridging research and management for sustainable development, 23-27 October 2000, Bali, Indonesia.

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Abstract

Most comparisons available suggest that synchronous spawning of numerous species of scleractinian corals is restricted to regions with large variations in environmental cycles, such as temperature and tides, with a progressive breakdown in seasonality and synchrony of reproduction towards the equator. Here we compared the reproductive condition of Acropora at 4 locations in the Coral Sea with contrasting environmental cycles. In the Solomon Islands (SI) where environmental conditions varied little, mature oocytes were found in 28 of the 38 Acropora species sampled. This was similar to the pattern on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and indicates that synchronous spawning is a feature of coral assemblages in the absence of major environmental fluctuations. In 8 widespread and abundant species the proportion of the population with mature oocytes was 2-4 times lower in the Sl, and a higher proportion of colonies had immature oocytes. These data are consistent with an extended reproductive season in the SI when compared to the GBR. Some asynchrony of gamete release was evident in most species at all locations. In addition, a high number of colonies with no visible gametes suggests that colonies of species which typically participate in mass spawning episodes on the GBR, may miss one or more years ,or spawn at other times of the year.

Item ID:	7906
Item Type:	Conference Item (Research - E1)
ISBN:	978-979-8105-97-5
Keywords:	coral; life history; mass spawning; reproduction; Acropora; Scleractinia
Related URLs:	http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/environmen...
Date Deposited:	04 Jan 2010 05:53
FoR Codes:	06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0608 Zoology > 060808 Invertebrate Biology @ 25% 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0603 Evolutionary Biology > 060308 Life Histories @ 50% 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0603 Evolutionary Biology > 060302 Biogeography and Phylogeography @ 25%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960805 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales @ 100%
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