Baird, Andrew H., Emslie, Michael J., and Lewis, Andrew R. (2012) Extended periods of coral recruitment on the Great Barrier Reef. In: Proceedings of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium. 12A_1. pp. 1-5. From: 12th International Coral Reef Symposium, 9-13 July 2012, Cairns, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

Highly synchronous spawning of many coral species followed by rapid settlement of larvae should result in a brief annual influx of recruits onto reefs. Here, we show that contrary to this prediction, Acropora recruits were recorded in every two-month interval over a two-year study period on settlement tiles placed on patch reefs in the lagoon of Walker Reef on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Nonetheless, recruitment in some taxa was seasonal. In the first year, recruitment of the broadcast spawning genera Acropora peaked in December, coinciding with the annual mass spawning period on the GBR. In the second year, there was a sixmonth period of high recruitment beginning in October. This extended recruitment most likely resulted from either long-lived larvae or larvae produced by Acropora colonies that spawn later in the season. In contrast, recruitment of the brooding genera, Pocillopora, Stylophora and Seriatopora occurred throughout the year reflecting the fact that these taxa planulate throughout the year in the central GBR.

Item ID:	22388
Item Type:	Conference Item (Research - E1)
ISBN:	978-0-9808572-5-2
Keywords:	coral reef, dispersal, spawning synchrony, recruitment, reproduction
Related URLs:	Organisation
Additional Information:	© Copyright belongs to the authors.
Date Deposited:	23 Jul 2012 02:10
FoR Codes:	06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960802 Coastal and Estuarine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
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