Coral Mass Spawning in Puerto Rico

[Hernandez Edwin]

Dear coral-listers.

Saludos desde Puerto Rico. This is to provide a
summary report of our observations during the 2002
coral mass spawning event which occurred on the
evening of last Thursday Aug. 29.

Anyone interested in some digital images of the
spawning activities may answer directly to me. Any
other observations from the Caribbean will be
appreaciated.

Cheers,

Edwin A. Hernandez, Ph.D.
UPR-Biology
coral_giac at yahoo.com
__________________________________

Summary report of the 2002 coral mass spawning event
at the Luis Peña Channel Marine Fishery Reserve,
Culebra Island, Puerto Rico.

Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado 1
Mary Ann Lucking 2

1 University of Puerto Rico, Department of Biology,
Coral Reef Research Group, P.O. Box 23360, San Juan,
Puerto Rico 00931-3360. coral_giac at yahoo.com

2 Coralations, P.O. Box 750, Culebra, Puerto Rico
00775. corals at caribe.net

The following is a brief summary of our observations
during the coral mass spawning event documented during
the evening of Thursday August 29, 2002 (7th evening
after the full moon) at Carlos Rosario Beach, within
the Luis Peña Channel Marine Fishery Reserve, Culebra
Island.  The MFR is located at approximately 28 km off
Northeastern Puerto Rico.  Observations were made
between 20:30 and 23:10.  Tide was high, very calm
seas with excellent visibility.

No information is available of spawning activities in
Culebra during the 5th and 6th evenings after the full
moon.  But continuous routine diving during August
27-29, 2002 showed no evidence of coral gamete bundles
in the water.  No spawning was observed during the 5th
or 6th evenings (August 27-28, 2002) at La Parguera,
P.R. (Héctor Ruíz, pers. com., UPR-Dept. Marine
Sciences, Mayaguez), or during the 5th evening at St.
Thomas (Sandra Romano, pers. com., UVI, St. Thomas).

Species                 Hour

Acropora palmata        21:30-21:40

Isolated polyps from a single colony spawned at 15-30
second intervals (1 m depth).  To our knowledge, this
is the first time that we have seen this species
spawning on the 7th evening after the full moon.

Diploria strigosa       22:05-22:20

Most of the colonies present spawned simultaneously.
Not all polyps spawned. (0.5-5 m).

Diploria clivosa        21:55-22:00

Several colonies spawned simultaneously. Not all
polyps spawned (0.5-5 m).

Montastrea annularis (columnar) 22:15-22:45

Most, but not all of the colonies spawned (0.5-5 m).
Most of the polyps of the spawning colonies released
gamete bundles, first those from the top of the
colonies, then those from the side, and finally those
from the bottom. Large (>2 m) and small (<20 cm)
colonies were observed spawning.  Spawning was
preceded by crawling brittle stars (Ophiocoma) and
Fireworm, Hermodice carunculata, approximately 2-3
minutes before spawning.  These species were observed
atop living surfaces of the corals when polyps were
fully distended and ready to release egg-sperm
bundles.

In addition, several colonies were observed to be
fully distended but did not release the gamete
bundles. It is suspected that the extremely high
density of plaktonic creatures just atop the surface
of the coral due to the attraction by the dive and
video-camera lights might have been factors that might
have prevented these few colonies to spawn.  They are
expected to spawn during the next evening.

It is interesting to point out that several colonies
of this species never showed signs of spawning,
suggesting the possibility that spawning might have
occurred during the 6th evening after the full moon
(Aug. 28, 20002), or they might have occurred on the
8th evening (Aug. 30, 2002).

Montastrea faveolata (platy)            22:00-22:15

Most, but not all of the colonies spawned (0.5-5 m).
Most of the polyps of the spawning colonies released
gamete bundles, first those from the top of the
colonies, then those from the side, and finally those
from the bottom. Large (>3 m) and small (<50 cm)
colonies were observed spawning.  Spawning was
preceded by crawling brittle stars (Ophiocoma)
approximately 2-3 minutes before spawning.  This
species was observed atop living surfaces of the
corals when polyps were fully distended and ready to
release egg-sperm bundles.  Polyp distension was
documented since approximately 20:45.

It is interesting to point out that several colonies
of this species never showed signs of spawning,
suggesting the possibility that spawning might have
occurred during the 6th evening after the full moon
(Aug. 28, 20002), or they might have occurred on the
8th evening (Aug. 30, 2002).

Montastrea franksi (massive)            22:00-22:10

Most, but not all of the colonies spawned (3-5 m).
Most of the polyps of the spawning colonies released
gamete bundles, first those from the top of the
colonies, then those from the side, and finally those
from the bottom. Large (>1 m) and small (<20 cm)
colonies were observed spawning.  Spawning was
preceded by crawling brittle stars (Ophiocoma)
approximately 2-3 minutes before spawning.  This
species was observed atop living surfaces of the
corals when polyps were fully distended and ready to
release egg-sperm bundles.  Polyp distension was
documented since approximately 21:30.

It is interesting to point out that several colonies
of this species never showed signs of spawning,
suggesting the possibility that spawning might have
occurred during the 6th evening after the full moon
(Aug. 28, 20002), or they might have occurred on the
8th evening (Aug. 30, 2002).

Porites porites (f. porites)            21:00-21:05

One colony was observed spawning in a single burst by
one of the crew members (2.5 m).

Other species documented during the dive, but not
observed spawning:

Acropora cervicornis
Agaricia agaricites (f. agaricites)
Agaricia agaricites (f. purpurea)
Agaricia agaricites (f. danai)
Agaricia agaricites (f. carinata)
Leptoseris cucullata
Diploria labyrinthiformis
Favia fragum
Siderastrea siderea
Siderastrea radians
Dendrogyra cylindrus
Isophyllastrea rigida
Isophyllia sinuosa
Tubastrea aurea
Millepora alcicornis
Millepora complanata
Millepora squarrosa

Acknowledgements

This survey trip was made possible by the grateful
collaboration of Elam “Rico” Rossy from Villa Boheme,
Culebra, who provided all the logistical support and
transportation to the Reserve.  Also, thanks to Mary
Ann Lucking, from Coralations, who also collaborated
with all the logistical support in Culebra.  Many
thanks to all of the other diving crew members, which
included Carlos Carrión, Jovino Márquez, Robert Matos,
Rico Rossy, Edgardo, Waleska, Paloma, and Yari.

__________________________________________________
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