Coral spawning in Key Largo (fwd)
Coral Health and Monitoring Program
coral at aoml.noaa.gov
Thu Sep 12 08:57:42 EDT 1996
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 22:33:32 -0800 (PST)
From: Aileen Morse <a_morse at lifesci.lscf.ucsb.edu>
To: coral at aoml.noaa.gov
Subject: RE: Coral spawning in Key Largo
Hi!
I was on the NOAA vessel at this site on both 9/3 and 9/4. We were netting
coral heads to collect egg bundles. On 9/3 there were only egg bundles in 2
of our collecting vessels (none in any of our others, or in those put out by
Prof. Alina Szmant's group). The 2 colonies that released on that night
were both A. annularis. Then on 9/4 we and Alina's group both collected
multiple releases from both A. annularis and A. faveolata colonies.
Collections by both groups indicated that more A. annularis
colonies went off than A. faveolata. But in neither case could the number
of colonies releasing be considered a "major" spawn.
Our aim was to fertilize large numbers of gametes from both species and also
to try an inter-species cross fertilization. In this we were successful.
However, both research groups observed that there was an unusually high
heterogeneity in the early stages of larval development for both species
(and in our cross). I cannot speak further for Alina's results, only our
own. By the second day the cultures of A. faveolata became much more
homogeneous with respect to developmental stage, as did the cross, and have
remained so. However, the cultures of A. annularis remain highly
heterogeneous and have developed much more slowly (even the most advanced
stages). Although fertilization success appeared to be relatively high,
development of subsequent larval stages seems to be relatively retarded.
As to your question re. the white substance being released fron colonies,
perhaps this was coral mucus. Corals tend to respond to "stress" by mucus
release. When working with my Japanese colleagues at their lab off Okinawa
colonies were placed in containers for egg bundle release. Very commonly
coral mucus is seen mixed in with the bundles. Anyway that is my best
guess. Best regards, Aileen Morse
Aileen N.C. Morse
Marine Biotechnology Center
Marine Science Institute
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
PHONE: 805-893-4277
FAX: 805-893-8062
E-mail: a_morse at lifesci.lscf.ucsb.edu
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