Miller, M. W.

Quick look report: Coral spawning in the upper Florida Keys, August 2013

2013

Miami, FL

NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center

SEFSC PRBD-2013-09

4

Unpublished Report

"SEFSC and partners have been undertaking genet-specific spawning observations of Acropora palmata populations in the upper keys since 2003 during the expected spawning window (nights 2-6 after the full moon in August, 22:00-23:00). After three years with little to no spawning in this population, 2013 saw the most complete and genotypically diverse spawn during the decade of record. Despite concerns developed over the past three dry years regarding potential shifts in spawning times (e.g., breakdowns in the corals biological clocks), field spawning by both Acropora spp. occurred exactly within the predicted nights and times. Of a total of twelve A. palmata genets under observation on some nights during the window, ten spawned and most spawned on two consecutive nights. All six A. palmata genets under observation at Elbow reef spawned synchronously, two nights in a row, which has not been observed before (usually only one or two of these Elbow genets have been observed to spawn on the same night). Partner institutions and boats were also able to document spawning and collect gametes from Acropora cervicornis (including outplanted populations at Molasses, some genets within the CRF nursery, and some genets temporarily brought to land tanks for more continuous observation), and Dendrogyra cylindrus. Early development of larvae of Dendrogyra cylindrus was observed for the first time, though they did not survive to settlement."

Funded by NOAAs Coral Reef Conservation Program and the Florida State Wildlife grants program. FY2013 CRCP Project ID 797; Project Title: Gamete/Larval Fitness of ESA Listed and Candidate Corals; Principal Investigator: Margaret Miller