Sex on the Reef: Observations of Coral Spawning in Dry Tortugas National Park

Authors

Karen L. Neely, Fish and Wildlife Research InstituteFollow
Tracy A. Ziegler, Dry Tortugas National Park

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Winter 2016

Publication Title

Park Science

Keywords

Coral reefs, Coral spawning, Dry Tortugas National Park, Endangered species

ISSN

0735-9462

Volume

33

Issue/No.

1

First Page

13

Last Page

16

Abstract

In Florida’s remote Dry Tortugas National Park, coral reefs are an important management priority. Reproduction of coral species is difficult to monitor, however, and the reproductive potential of coral colonies at the park has been a matter of concern for several years. Two threatened species, elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) and pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus), were targeted for observation during their predicted annual spawning event in August 2014. Over a three-night period, both species were observed releasing gametes in near synchrony with observations at other sites in the Florida Keys. That these organisms are capable of being reproductive within the park provides hope for the future of these threatened species in the region.

Additional Comments

Florida State Wildlife Grant #: F13AF01085

NSUWorks Citation

Karen L. Neely and Tracy A. Ziegler. 2016. Sex on the Reef: Observations of Coral Spawning in Dry Tortugas National Park .Park Science , (1) : 13 -16. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/955.

ORCID ID

0000-0003-0934-3256