[Coral-List] coral spawning in the Florida Keys

[Mark Vermeij]

Dear List,

An impressive August spawning occurred in the Florida Keys on the 
nights of the 5th to the 7th:

Thursday August 5: A. palmata bundles set around 21h15, release 
between 22h30 and 23h00 (Little Grecian Reef, Key Largo). Colonies at 
shallower depth (<2m) seemed to spawn later than the ones deeper 
(approx. 5m). Around 70% of the colonies released gametes.

Friday August 6: Two male M. cavernosa colonies were observed 
releasing sperm at 21h30. A. palmata bundles set around 21h30, and 
release occurred between 22h00 and 23h00. Approx. 80-90% of the 
colonies released gametes at this site (Horsheshoe Reef, Key Largo). 
Bundles were observed in small patches on several M. faveolata 
colonies around 23h30 (10% of the population).

Saturday August 7: 23h15 Bundles set in M. faveolata colonies, with 
subsequent spawning around 23h45. (Key Largo Dry Rocks). Approx. 30% 
of the M. faveolata colonies was observed releasing gametes. Earlier 
the same night (around 22h00) mearly all gorgonians of the species  
Plexaura flexuosa and a Eunicea sp. were observed releasing what 
looked like 1mm long planulae/embryo's. 

Best regards,

Dana Williams
Lyza Johnston
Illiana Baums
Mark Vermeij



____________________________________________________


Dr. M. Vermeij
Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS)
Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS, 
University of Miami)
NOAA Southeast Science Fisheries Center 
75 Virginia Beach Dr
Miami, FL 33149 U.S.A.

mark.vermeij at noaa.gov
tel +1 305 3614230
tel +1 305 3614609
fax +1 305 3614499