When fragmented coral spawn? Effect of size and timing on survivorship and fecundity of fragmentation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acropora formosa</Emphasis> |
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Authors: | Nami Okubo Tatsuo Motokawa Makoto Omori |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan;(2) Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan;(3) Akajima Marine Science Laboratory, 179 Aka, Zamami-son, Okinawa 901-3311, Japan |
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Abstract: | In order to determine competency of sexual reproduction and survival rate after fragmentation, the branching coral Acropora formosa was fragmented and fragments in three different sizes (ca. 5, 10 and 20 cm long) and three different stages of gametogenesis
were transplanted on coral pavement. Their oocyte development and fecundity, as well as spawning were monitored for a 3-year
period. The oocyte development was affected by both fragment size and by the developmental stage of oocytes when fragmented.
In small fragments, the oocytes were resorbed while in large fragments they continued development. Oocytes in the early vitellogenic
stage at the time of fragmentation were resorbed, whereas those in the late stage continued developing. Smaller fragments
showed a lower survival rate and histological observations of their gonads revealed resorption of oocytes, suggesting that
there was a trade-off of energy between reproduction and survival. Transplanted fragments often spawned one month earlier
than the donor colonies in the first year, but spawning occurred in the same month as the donors or did not occur at all in
the second year and none spawned in the third year. The risk of colony death may cause the fragments to re-allocate energy
for sexual reproduction. |
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