[Coral-List] Flower Garden Banks NMS August 2006 coral spawning observations

Emma Hickerson emma.hickerson at noaa.gov
Thu Aug 24 13:06:29 EDT 2006


Sanctuary staff and researchers documented the annual coral spawning 
event at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, located 100 
miles south of the Texas/Louisiana border, in the Gulf of Mexico, last 
week. 

FGBNMS August 2006 coral spawning observations:

Date, # of nights after the August full moon
Species/sex    Time    number of colonies

August 14, 2006, 6 nights after the full moon
Montastraea cavernosa female    1950 to 2115    9 colonies
M. cavernosa male    2100 +        6 colonies
M. franksi     2145 to 2210      5 colonies

Other spawning observations:
Xestospongia muta female    0850 to 0950    2 colonies
X. muta male    0915        1 colony

August 15, 2006, 7 nights after the full moon
Diploria strigosa    2100 to 2215    5 colonies
M. franksi    2140 to 2245    40 colonies
M. cavernosa male    2152 to 2215    2 colonies
M. cavernosa female    2206 to 2215    3 colonies
S. intersepta female    2200 to 2220    4 colonies
M. faveolata    2250 to 2320    10 colonies

Other spawning observations:
Spirobranchus giganteus     2130 to 2215    12 individs.
    Male and female

August 16, 2006, 8 nights after the full moon
D. strigosa    2030 to 2210    230 colonies
M. franksi    2030 to 2225    91 colonies
S. intersepta male    2220 to 2055    10 colonies
S. intersepta female    1054        1 colony

Other spawning observations:
Ophioderma rubicundum male    2030 to 2150    2 individs
O. rubicundum female    2030 to 2150    5 individs
Sparsimona viride    1045    1 pr

August 17, 2006, 9 nights after the full moon
Colpophyllia natans    2020 and 2120    3 colonies
M. franksi    2130 to 2230    6 colonies
S. intersepta male    2220 to 2238    5 colonies
S. intersepta female    2300    5 colonies
M. faveolata    2310    1 colony

Other spawning observations:
O. squamosissimum male    2045    1 individ
X. muta male      0900   2 colonies
X. muta female    0900    8 colonies  

August 19, 2006, 11 nights after the full moon
Recreational divers on board the M/V SPREE reported pink gamete bundles 
in the water column and on the surface at 2030.  

Depths of observations averaged around 24m (80').  Sea conditions were 
excellent.  Wave heights ranged between 0-0.6m (0 - 2'). Daytime 
visibility was consistently over 30m (100').  Water temperature on the 
reef was 29.7C (85.5F).  Minimal currents.

Observations were made by the FGBNMS research team:  Emma Hickerson, 
G.P. Schmahl, Doug Weaver, Kyle Byers, and Lindsay Kurelja.  University 
of Calgary coral reproduction researcher, Dr. Peter Vize, and his team 
also contributed to the observations. Other contributers were Bob 
Cranston and Peter Craig, Kaile Tsapis, and Gary Merritt.  

There is a possibility of a second spawning event this year, in 
September, 2006 at the FGBNMS.  A research cruise has been scheduled 
during the predicted dates to document the event, should it occur.
               
Emma Hickerson

-- 
***PLEASE NOTE NEW ADDRESS***

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Emma L. Hickerson
Research Coordinator
emma.hickerson at noaa.gov

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
4700 Avenue U, Bldg. 216
Galveston, TX  77551

Phone:  409-621-5151
cell:  979-777-3895
fax: 409-621-1316

flowergarden.noaa.gov
sanctuaries.noaa.gov





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