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Groups travel further: pelagic metamorphosis and polyp clustering allow higher dispersal potential in sun coral propagules

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Abstract

We report that planulae produced by Tubastraea coccinea can metamorphose and aggregate in groups of up to eight polyps in the water column, without previous settlement on benthic substrate. We also evaluated the survival of propagules to test whether different levels of aggregation allowed for longer planktonic life and, therefore, higher dispersal potential. Our results show that pelagic polyps live longer than planulae, probably because they can feed and meet the presumably high-energy demands of swimming. Clusters of two or more individuals lived longer than solitary polyps. However, mortality did not differ between small (2–3 polyps) and large (4–8 polyps) clusters, suggesting the existence of an upper limit to cluster size. Most swimming clusters (80 %) remained alive after 6 months, suggesting that pelagic metamorphosis and cluster formation can be a key life-history feature increasing dispersal potential, population connectivity, and the colonization of new habitats in this invasive species.

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Acknowledgments

Two anonymous reviewers provided very important comments to improve an early version of this paper. We thank Joseilto Medeiros de Oliveira, Eduardo Honuma, and Elso Alves da Silva, for their help in field surveys. Diogo Oliveira and Beatriz Cunha helped us in laboratory procedures. Alvaro Migotto provided most valuable advice during observations and photographic sessions. This research was funded by the International Collaboration Program PC-PEG (Programa de Estudante-Convênio de Pós-Graduação), promoted by CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior), through a PhD fellowship to DM, and by FAPESP (Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) through a visiting scientist grant conceded to SAN (# 2012/0519-3). This is a contribution of the Research Centre for Marine Biodiversity of the University of São Paulo (NP-Biomar/USP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biologia Marinha (CEBIMar/USP), Universidade de São Paulo, Rod. Manoel Hipólito do Rego, km 131.5, São Sebastião, São Paulo, 11600-000, Brazil

    Damián Mizrahi & Augusto A. V. Flores

  2. Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas, Las Cruces, and Center for Marine Conservation, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile

    Sergio A. Navarrete

Authors
  1. Damián Mizrahi
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  2. Sergio A. Navarrete
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  3. Augusto A. V. Flores
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Correspondence to Augusto A. V. Flores.

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Communicated by Biology Editor Prof. Brian Helmuth

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Mizrahi, D., Navarrete, S.A. & Flores, A.A.V. Groups travel further: pelagic metamorphosis and polyp clustering allow higher dispersal potential in sun coral propagules. Coral Reefs 33, 443–448 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-014-1135-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-014-1135-4

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