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Formation and structural organization of the egg–sperm bundle of the scleractinian coral Montipora capitata

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Abstract

The majority of scleractinian corals are hermaphrodites that broadcast spawn their gametes separately or packaged as egg–sperm bundles during spawning events that are timed to the lunar cycle. The egg–sperm bundle is an efficient way of transporting gametes to the ocean surface where fertilization takes place, while minimizing sperm dilution and maximizing the opportunity for gamete encounters during a spawning event. To date, there are few studies that focus on the formation and structure of egg–sperm bundle. This study explores formation, ultrastructure, and longevity of the egg–sperm bundle in Montipora capitata, a major reef building coral in Hawai‘i. Our results show that the egg–sperm bundle is formed by a mucus layer secreted by the oocytes. The sperm package is located at the center of each bundle, possibly reflecting the development of male and female gametes in different mesenteries. Once the egg–sperm bundle has reached the ocean surface, it breaks open within 10–35 min, depending on the environmental conditions (i.e., wind, water turbulence). Although the bundle has an ephemeral life span, the formation of an egg–sperm bundle is a fundamental part of the reproductive process that could be strongly influenced by climate change and deterioration of water quality (due to anthropogenic effects) and thus requires further investigation.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks to F. Cox for her advice and encouragement during the earlier stages of this project, to G. Carter and M. Hagedorn for collection assistance and to K. Stender and P. Duarte-Quiroga for pictures in the field. Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers that helped to collect the samples during the spawning events, especially the 2007 Edwin W. Pauley Summer Program students at HIMB. Thanks to R. Kinzie, K. J. Eckelberger, C. Smith, R. Bidigare, and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. JLPG was supported by a CONACYT Graduate Research Fellowship and the GEF-World Bank Coral Reef Targeted Research Project. This is HIMB contribution number 1397 and SOEST contribution number 7983.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography, 1000 Pope Rd, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    J. L. Padilla-Gamiño & R. G. Waller

  2. Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, PO Box 1346, Kane‘ohe, HI, 96744, USA

    J. L. Padilla-Gamiño & R. D. Gates

  3. Pacific Biosciences Research Center, 1993 East–West Road, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    T. M. Weatherby

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  1. J. L. Padilla-Gamiño
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  2. T. M. Weatherby
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  3. R. G. Waller
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Correspondence to J. L. Padilla-Gamiño.

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Communicated by Biology Editor Dr. Mark Warner

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Padilla-Gamiño, J.L., Weatherby, T.M., Waller, R.G. et al. Formation and structural organization of the egg–sperm bundle of the scleractinian coral Montipora capitata . Coral Reefs 30, 371–380 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-010-0700-8

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