Florida coral spawning

[Alina Szmant]

In contrast to other areas (Jamaica and Texas Flower Gardens) from which we 
have reports of a second coral spawning in September (15, 16), there was 
little to no spawning on two Florida Keys reefs on Sept. 14-16.   Extensive 
checking of Key Largo and Biscayne National Park colonies of the Montastraea 
species revealed very few (ca. 2-5 %) of colonies with gonads.  Samples of 
four of these colonies brought into the laboratory spawned at odd hours in 
contrast with previous years in which lab corals spawned at the same time as 
field corals.  Any other observations from Florida coral spawn watchers 
would be appreciated.    
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Dr. Alina M. Szmant 
Coral Reef Research Group 
RSMAS-MBF 
University of Miami 
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy. 
Miami FL 33149 

TEL: (305)361-4609 
FAX: (305)361-4600 or 361-4005 
E-mail:  ASZMANT at RSMAS.MIAMI.EDU 
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