[Coral-List] Acropora cervicornis spawning

[Bernardo Vargas-Angel]

We observed colonies of Acropora cervicornis spawn on 28 July, 15 days after
the full moon (i.e., new moon) off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Colonies released egg-sperm bundles from 2300–2320h. Reported sea conditions
were calm (~Beaufort 1), falling tide, and good visibility. An estimated 50%
of the colonies present at the study thicket spawned, and within those
colonies that spawned, nearly 20–25% of the branches released gametes,
mainly along the upper portions.  These observations contrast with previous
years (2001), when nearly 70% of the colonies spawned.

Several colonies released a very limited number of egg-sperm bundles on 21
July (8th day after the full moon) from 2300–2320.

S. Michael Hoke
Heather Halter
Erin Hodel

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Bernardo Vargas-Angel, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
National Coral Reef Institute
NSU Oceanographic Center
8000 N. Ocean Drive
Dania Beach, FL 33004
Phone: (954) 262-3677
Fax: (954) 262-4027