Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Authors

Andrew H. Baird, James Cook University
Alasdair J. Edwards, Newcastle University
James R. Guest, Newcastle University
Saki Harii, University of the Ryukyus
Masayuki Hatta, Ochanomizu University
Liam Lachs, Newcastle University
Hanaka Mera, James Cook University
Frederic Sinniger, University of the Ryukyus
David Abrego, Southern Cross University
Or Ben-Zvi, Tel-Aviv University
Omri Bronstein, Tel-Aviv University
Patrick C. Cabaitan, University of the Philippines
Vivian R. Cumbo, Macquarie University
Gal Eyal, The University of Queensland
Lee Eyal-Shaham, Bar-Ilan University
Bar Feldman, Tel-Aviv University
Joana Figueiredo, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Jean-François Flot, Université libre de Bruxelles
Mila Grinblat, James Cook University
Andrew Heyward, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Michio Hidaka, University of Ryukyus
Mamiko Hirose, Tokai University
Akira Iguchi, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Naoko Isomura, Okinawa College
Robert A. Kinzie, University of Hawaii, Manoa
Seiya Kitanobo, University of the Ryukyus
Alyson Kuba, James Cook UniversityFollow
Oren Levy, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
Yossi Loya, Tel-Aviv University
Takuma Mezaki, Kuroshio Biological Research Foundation
Amin R. Mohamed, University of Queensland
Masaya Morita, University of the Ryukyus
Satoshi Nojima, Kyushu University
Yoko Nozawa, Academia Sinica
Rian Prasetia, National University of Singapore
Eneour Puill-Stephan, Sustainable Research Vessel, Landéda
Catalina Ramirez-Portilla, Université libre de Bruxelles
Hanna Rapuano, Tel-Aviv University
Yaeli Rosenberg, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
Yusuke Sakai, National Institute for Basic Biology
Kazuhiko Sakai, University of the Ryukyus
Tom Shlesinger, Florida Institute of Technology
Tullia I. Terraneo, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Irina Yakovleva, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Hiromi H. Yamamoto, Okinawa Churashima Research Center
Kiyoshi Yamazato, University of Ryukyus

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-19-2021

Publication Title

Galaxea

Keywords

Coral reefs, Phenology, Reproduction, Multi-species synchronous spawning

ISSN

1883-3969

Abstract

Sesoko Station, Okinawa, has been the site of many significant advances in coral reproductive research and it continues to be a preferred destination for both Japanese and international researchers. Consequently, there are decades of spawning observations, which we present and explore here with the aim of making it easier to predict when species spawn at Sesoko Station. The data include over 700 spawning observations from 87 species of reef-building hermatypic corals. Almost all spawning occurred between dusk and dawn, with most spawning activity concentrated in the 2 to 4 hours after sunset. Some phylogenetic patterns were evident: most Acropora species spawn on or around the 6th full moon after December 21st (the northern hemisphere winter solstice); spawning in common species of merulinids and Porites appears to be concentrated around the 7th full moon and spawning in the fungiids around the 8th and subsequent full moons. The night of peak spawning with respect to the night of the full moon varied considerably among years in common Acropora species, but was dependent on the calendar date of the full moon in May or June. Therefore, despite an extended spawning season of over three months and considerable variation in the calendar date of spawning in many species among years, the month and night of spawning are reasonably predictable for many species enhancing the value of Sesoko Station as a site for coral reproductive research.

ORCID ID

0000-0001-6597-0268

DOI

10.3755/galaxea.G2021_S10O

Peer Reviewed

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