Abstract
Little information is available on reproductive processes among corals in isolated central Pacific reef regions, including French Polynesia. This study examined the timing and mode of sexual reproduction for Acropora reef corals at Moorea. Spawning was observed and/or inferred in 110 Acropora colonies, representing 12 species, following full moon periods in September through November 2002. Gamete release was observed and inferred in four species of Acropora between 9 and 13 nights after the full moon (nAFM) in September 2002. Twelve Acropora spp. spawned gametes between 5 and 10 nAFM in October 2002, with six species spawning 7 nAFM and four species spawning 9 nAFM. In November 2002, spawning of egg and sperm bundles was observed and inferred in 27 colonies of Acropora austera, 6 nAFM. These are the first detailed records of spawning by Acropora corals in French Polynesia.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the CRIOBE Research Station in Moorea for field assistance, laboratory and aquarium facilities and UCLA Berkeley for aquarium facilities at the GUMP Research Station. Special thanks to C.C. Wallace for coral identification and Elodie Lagouy for field assistance. This research was supported by a French/Australian collaborative research fund, a Total Foundation grant, from PPF “Populations Fractionnées et Insulaires” EPHE, and from the Ministère de l’Outre-Mer to M. Adjeroud, an Australian Research Council Grant to P. Harrison, and SCU/NMSC Postgraduate grants to A. Carroll. We thank reviewers for helpful comments on the manuscript.
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Carroll, A., Harrison, P. & Adjeroud, M. Sexual reproduction of Acropora reef corals at Moorea, French Polynesia. Coral Reefs 25, 93–97 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-005-0057-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-005-0057-6