Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seasonality and lunar periodicity in the reproduction of Pocilloporid corals

  • Reports
  • Published:
Coral Reefs Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Reproductive seasonality and lunar periodicity of planula release were investigated for the three brooding coralsPocillopora damicornis, Seriatopora hystrix, andStylophora pistillata at Heron Island in the southern Great Barrier Reef. Branch fragments collected from undisturbed colonies in the field were used to determine when planulae were present for all three species, and direct observations of planula release were made on colonies ofPocillopora kept in aquaria. All three species displayed marked seasonal variation in reproductive output, with nearly all reproductive activity occurring over the summer months.Pocillopora exhibited distinct lunar periodicity in planulation, with planula release occurring around three quarter moon, and no planulae being present in samples collected between new and full moons.Seriatopora also displayed lunar periodicity of planula release, although it was not as distinct as forPocillopora, whileStylophora did not show any lunar periodicity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atoda K (1947a) The larva and postlarval development of some reef-building corals. I.Pocillopora damicornis cespitosa (Dana). Sci Rep Tohoku Uni 4th Ser 18:24–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Atoda K (1947b) The larvae and postlarval development of some reef-building corals. II.Stylophora pistillata (Esper). Sci Rep Tohoku Uni 4th Ser 18:48–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Atoda K (1951) The larvae and postlarval development of some reef-building corals. V.Seriatopora hystrix Dana. Sci Rep Tohoku Uni 4th Ser 19:33–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Babcock RC, Bull GD, Harrison PL, Heyward AJ, Oliver JK, Wallace CC, Willis BL (1986) Synchronous spawning of 105 scleractinian coral species on the Great Barrier Reef. Mar Biol 90:379–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Babcock RC, Willis BL, Simpson CJ (1994) Mass spawning of corals on a high latitude coral reef. Coral Reefs 13:161–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Benzie JAH, Haskell A, Lehman H (1995) Variation in the genetic composition of coral (Pocillopora damicornis andAcropora palifera) populations from different reef habitats. Mar Biol 121:731–739

    Google Scholar 

  • Gittings SR, Boland GS, Deslarzes KJP, Combs C, Holland BS, Bright TJ (1992) Mass spawning and reproductive viability of reef corals at the East Flower Garden Bank, northwest Gulf of Mexico. Bull Mar Sci 51:420–428

    Google Scholar 

  • Glynn PW (1976) Some physical and biological determinants of coral community structure in the Eastern Pacific. Ecol Monogr 46:431–456

    Google Scholar 

  • Glynn PW, Gassman NJ, Eakin CM, Cortes J, Smith DB, Guzman HM (1991) Reef coral reproduction in the eastern Pacific: Costa Rica, Panama, and Galapagos Island (Ecuador): I. Pocilloporidae. Mar Biol 109:355–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross MG (1987) Oceanography: a view of the earth (4th edn). Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrigan JF (1972) The planula larvae ofPocillopora damicornis: Lunar periodicity of swarming and substratum selection behaviour. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Hawaii, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Harriott VJ (1983) Reproductive seasonality, settlement, and postsettlement mortality ofPocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus) at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 2:151–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison PL, Wallace CC (1990) Reproduction, dispersal and recruitment of scleractinian corals. In: Dubinsky Z (ed) Ecosystems of the world, vol 25: Coral reefs. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 133–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison PL, Babcock RC, Bull GD, Oliver JK, Wallace CC, Willis BL (1994) Mass spawning in tropical reef corals. Science 223:1186–1189

    Google Scholar 

  • Jokiel PL (1985) Lunar periodicity of planula release in the reef coralPocillopora damicornis in relation to various environmental factors. In: Proc 5th Int Coral Reef Symp 4:307–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Jokiel PL, Guinther EB (1978) Effects of temperature on reproduction in the hermatypic coralPocillopora damicornis. Bull Mar Sci 28:786–789

    Google Scholar 

  • Jokiel PL, Ito RY, Liu M (1985) Night irradiance and synchronization of lunar release of planula larvae in the reef coralPocillopora damicornis. Mar Biol 88:167–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Lough JM (1994) Climate variation and El Nino-Southern Oscillation events on the Great Barrier Reef: 1958 to 1987. Coral Reefs 13:181–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Loya Y (1983) Reproduction strategy ofStylophora pistillata in the Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea. In: Baker JT, Carter RM, Sammarco PW, Stark KP (eds) Proc Inaugral Great Barrier Reef Conf, Townsville, 1983. JCU Press, Townsville, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall SM, Stephenson TA (1933) The breeding of reef animals. Part I. The corals. Sci Rep Great Barrier Reef Exped 1928-29 3:219–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Muir PR (1984) Periodicity and asexual planulae production inPocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus) at Magnetic Island. Thesis, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver JK, Babcock RC, Harrison PL, Willis BL (1988) Geographic extent of mass coral spawning: clues to ultimate causal factors. Proc 6th Int Coral Reef Symp 2:853–859

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearse JS (1991) Lunar reproductive rhythms in marine invertebrates: maximizing fertilization? Adv Invert Reprod 5:311–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearse JS, Cameron A (1991) Echinodermata: Echinoidea. In: Giese AC, Pearse JS, Pearse VB (eds) Reproduction of marine invertebrates, vol VI: Echinoderms and Lophophorates. Boxwood Press, Pacific Grove, pp 514–663

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearse JS, McClintock JB, Bosch I (1991) Reproduction of Antarctic benthic marine invertebrates: tempos, modes, and timing. Am Zool 31:65–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Pennington JT (1985) The ecology of fertilization of echinoid eggs: the consequences of sperm dilution, adult aggregation, and synchronous spawning. Biol Bull 169:417–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Richmond RH (1985) Variation in the population biology ofPocillopora damicornis across the Pacific Ocean. In: Proc 5th Int Coral Reef Symp 6:101–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Richmond RH (1987) Energetic relationships and biogeographical differences among fecundity, growth and reproduction in the reef coralPocillopora damicornis. Bull Mar Sci 41:594–604

    Google Scholar 

  • Richmond RH, Hunter CL (1990) Reproduction and recruitment of corals: Comparisons among the Caribbean, the tropical Pacific, and the Red Sea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 60:185–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Richmond RH, Jokiel PL (1984) Lunar periodicity in larvae release in the reef coralPocillopora damicornis at Enewetak and Hawaii. Bull Mar Sci 34:280–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinkevich B, Loya Y (1979a) The reproduction of the Red Sea coralStylophora pistillata. I. Gonads and planulae. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 1:133–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinkevich B, Loya Y (1979b) The reproduction of the Red Sea coralStylophora pistillata: II. Synchronization in breeding and seasonality of planulae shedding. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 1:145–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinkevich B, Loya Y (1985) Intraspecific competition in a reef coral: effects on growth and reproduction. Oecologia 66:100–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinkevich B, Loya Y (1989) Reproduction in regenerating colonies of the coralStylophora pistillata. In: Spanier E, Steinberger Y, Luris M (eds) Environmental quality and ecosystem stability, Vol IV-B. ISEEQS, Jerusalem, Israel, pp 257–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Sammarco PW (1982) Polyp bail-out: an escape response to environmental stress and a new means of reproduction in corals. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 10:57–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Stimson JS (1978) Mode and timing of reproduction in some common hermatypic corals of Hawaii and Enewetak. Mar Biol 48:173–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoddart DR, Black R (1985) Cycles of gametogenesis and planulation in the coralPocillopora damicornis. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 23:153–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoddart DR, Black R (1985) Cycles of gametogenesis and planulation in the coralPocillopora damicornis. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 23:153–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoddart JA (1983) Asexual production of planulae in the coralPocillorpora damicornis. Mar Biol 76:279–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Szmant-Froelich A, Reutter M, Riggs L (1985) Sexual reproduction ofFavia fragum (Esper): Lunar patterns of gametogenesis, embryogenesis and planulation in Puerto Rico. Bull Mar Sci 37:880–892

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward S (1992) Evidence for broadcast spawning as well as brooding in the scleractinian coralPocillopora damicornis. Mar Biol 112:641–646

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolanksi E, Pickard GL (1985) Long-term observations of currents on the central Great Barrier Reef continental shelf. Coral Reefs 4:47–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyers SC, Barnes HS, Smith SR (1991) Spawning of hermatypic corals in Bermuda: a pilot study. Hydrobiologia 216/217: 109–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (1984) Biostatistical analysis. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, USA

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Biology, James Cook University, 4811, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

    J. E. Tanner

Authors
  1. J. E. Tanner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tanner, J.E. Seasonality and lunar periodicity in the reproduction of Pocilloporid corals. Coral Reefs 15, 59–66 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01626077

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01626077

Keywords

Search

Navigation