[Coral-List] Coral Spawning 2004

[Mark Vermeij]

  Dear All,
Hereby my best guess for spawning times for various coral species in the 
Southern Caribbean for 2004. For each species the times are given for 
the expected spawning time on Curacao and Bonaire (data 1997-2003). 
However, based on observations from last year throughout the Caribbean, 
differences among localities were often small. I added, when available, 
comments on deviating spawning times for specific localities. I want to 
stress that these are estimates and no guarantee exists that things will 
go as expected. Last year several species behaved "weird", so they only 
way to be really sure is by filling a few more tanks and dive as much as 
you can....

Best regards, and feel free to make improvements

Mark


Acropora palmata :
Southern Caribbean: Sep 4 &5: 21h15-22h00; in 2003 observed spawning 
occurred 15d after full moon in July (i.e. July 17th for 2004) in Ft. 
Lauderdale area, but due to early new moon in July, the species will 
probably spawn in August; normal spawning expected in Fl. Keys  and USVI 
for August

Acropora cervicornis:
Southern Caribbean: Sep 4 &5: 21h00-22h00; observed spawning one day 
earlier in Puerto Rico (9h20-9h40); some observations (Fl. Keys and 
Bonaire) of spawning in July, not expected for 2004 due to early full 
moon in July; spawning reported for 2nd round only and one hour earlier 
(20h00-21h00) for Grand Cayman in 2003

Diploria labyrinthiformis:
Sep 4-7 & Oct 3-6: 22h00-23h30;

Diploria strigosa:
Sep 17 18 22h00-23h 30;Oct 17 18 22h00-23h00, no spawning during 2nd 
round in Venezuela; spawning (2nd round only) half hour later in Grand 
Cayman/ Fl. Keys based on 2003 observations; possibility for spawning on 
Nov 3-6 in Southern Caribbean

Montastraea cavernosa:
Sep 4-6 & Oct 3-5: 21h00-23h00; spawning in Fl Keys expected for Sep 7/ 
Oct 6 as well based on 2003 observations. Males more often observed than 
females in 2003.

M. annularis complex:
Sep 4-6 & Oct 3-5: 21h00-22h30; largely similar observations from all 
over the Caribbean in 2003 (e.g. USVI, Bahamas, Fl. Keys, Martinique, 
Guadeloupe, Bonaire, Curacao, Venezuela, Panama). Slight possibility for 
spawning on Nov 3-6 in Southern Caribbean (Leeward Antilles, Colombia, 
Venezuela).

Siderastrea siderea:
Sep 4-6 & Oct 3-5: 22h00-23h00

Eusmilia fastigiata:
planulae likely visible throughout mid Sep - Oct in tentacles;

Madracis senaria:
Releases large number of white planulae (approx. 0.3mm) during Sep 7-8 & 
Oct 6-7, between 0h00-06h00;

Agaricia humilis:
Releases small amounts of large planulae (approx. 0.5-0.8mm); entire 
period Sep- Nov; but also during the rest of the year.

Agaricia agaricites:
 Releases intermediate amounts of intermediate sized planulae (approx. 
<0.4mm); entire period Sep- Nov;

Stephanocoenia michelini:
Sep 5-7 & Oct 4-6: 21h00-22h00; some colonies can be observed releasing 
sperm and eggs from different parts of the colony. Most often the top 
half of the colony contains male gametes whereas the bottom contains 
female gametes.

-- 
Dr. Mark Vermeij 

Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (RSMAS/UM)

NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Science Center
75 Virginia Beach Dr, Miami, FL 33149 USA
Tel: +1 305-361-4230, 
Fax: +1 305-361-4499 
E-mail: Mark.Vermeij at noaa.gov

http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/groups/cimas/