Pre-planular external development in the brooding coral Agaricia humilis

Petersen, Dirk; Moorsel, G.W.N.M. van

doi:10.3354/meps289307

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Up to five larvae from each colony were haphazardly selected, examined under a stereomicroscope with a scale bar, and photographed; the 2‐D area of each larva was then measured (Van Moorsel ). While we took care to ensure that nonspheroid larvae were measured when the longitudinal axis was in plane with the camera, any slight deviations off‐axis would cause an underestimation of size that would be mathematically amplified (with respect to population variance) by calculating larval volume based on a spheroid (Petersen & Van Moorsel ). Therefore, larval sizes are reported here in two dimensions (as area) rather than as volume estimates.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corals in Healthy Populations Produce More Larvae Per Unit Cover

Hartmann

Marhaver

Vermeij

2017

CONSERVATION LETTERS

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In coral reef conservation and management, the prevailing metric of reef health is percent coral cover, a measurement commonly used with the assumption that each unit of live coral tissue has equivalent ecological value. Here we show that the reproductive output of a coral population is not proportional to the cover of coral present. Instead, when compared to declining populations nearby, high cover coral populations produced up to four times more larvae per square centimeter of tissue, resulting in up to 200 times higher larval production per square meter of reef. Importantly, corals that produced more larvae did not produce smaller larvae, as predicted by resource allocation theory. Instead, higher fecundity corresponded to higher energetic lipid reserves in higher cover coral populations. In the wake of unprecedented global coral bleaching, our findings suggest that the largest reductions in coral reproduction may occur when corals are lost from previously healthy populations.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corals in Healthy Populations Produce More Larvae Per Unit Cover

Hartmann

Marhaver

Vermeij

2017

CONSERVATION LETTERS

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“…Internal fertilization has been reported in the broadcast spawning scleractinians Montastrea cavernosa and Stephanocoenia intersepta (Hagman et al 1998), and both internal and external fertilization occur in Goniastrea aspera from Japan (Sakai 1997, Nozawa & Harrison 2005. High viability of prematurely released embryos has been reported in internal brooding scleractinian Agaricia humilis (Petersen & Van Moorsel 2005) suggesting that a prolonged internal brooding period is not a prerequisite for brooders. Additional coral species reported in the literature have features consistent with internal brooding (e.g.…”

Section: External Broodingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual reproduction in octocorals

Kahng¹,

Benayahu²,

Lasker³

2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

128

156

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“…Stress may lead to premature abortion of gametes and embryos, and the release of planulae in corals (Harrison & Wallace, 1990; Petersen & Van Moorsel, 2005). Such stress influences may be caused by suddenly changing the environment as a result of transferring specimens from the field to the aquarium.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pocillopora damicornis can produce planulae asexually, although sexual reproduction is assumed to be present in the field as well (Stoddart, 1983). As a result of stress, brooders may release embryos, which may externally develop to settlement‐competent planulae; hence the planktonic period might be unusually extended (Petersen & Van Moorsel, 2005). Whether a coral will cross‐ or self‐fertilize or produce planulae asexually might be highly dependent on environmental conditions and on the population structure (e.g.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual reproduction of scleractinian corals in public aquariums: current status and future perspectives

Petersen

Falcato²,

Gilles³

et al. 2007

International Zoo Yearbook

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A multiple‐choice questionnaire was distributed, mainly via the list servers of the EUAC (European Union of Aquarium Curators) Coral ASP (Animal Sustainability Program) and AquaticInfo, to evaluate the potential of today's aquariums for the captive breeding of scleractinian corals. Sixteen (including the temperate coral Astroides calycularis) of, in total, 24 species (nine families) were recorded as showing reproductive behaviour that could establish an F1 generation. Broadcast spawners (13 species) reproduced mainly in open systems under natural light conditions (in all cases natural moonlight exposure), whereas brooders (11 species) showed less sensitivity towards certain environmental factors known to trigger reproduction in field populations (here moonlight and temperature fluctuations). Except for a few recruits of Galaxea fascicularis and Echinopora lamellosa maintained in a 750 000 litre system, recruits of broadcast spawners could be exclusively obtained by manipulating fertilization and settlement. Brooding corals established generally less than 100 recruits if settlement was not enhanced experimentally. When reproduction was manipulated, it enhanced reproductive success, in most cases to above 100 recruits. We assume that more species, especially brooders, might reproduce in public aquariums without being noticed by the staff owing to the lack of recruitment and of experimental design (larval collection). This study illustrates the great potential for public aquariums to reproduce corals sexually. However, more investigation is necessary to optimize reproductive success and possibly to broaden the spectrum of species reproduced in public aquariums.

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Pre-planular external development in the brooding coral Agaricia humilis

Cited by 6 publications

References 18 publications

Corals in Healthy Populations Produce More Larvae Per Unit Cover

Corals in Healthy Populations Produce More Larvae Per Unit Cover

Sexual reproduction in octocorals

Sexual reproduction of scleractinian corals in public aquariums: current status and future perspectives

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