[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
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***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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