Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Synchronous spawnings of 105 scleractinian coral species on the Great Barrier Reef

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Following observations of mass spawning of hermatypic corals on the Great Barrier Reef in 1981 and 1982, spawning dates were successfully predicted and documented at five reefs on the Central and Northern Great Barrier Reef in 1983. During the predicted times, 105 species from 36 genera and 11 families were observed to spawn. Of these, 15 species were shown to have an annual gametogenic cycle. All but two of the species observed during mass spawnings shed gametes which underwent external fertilization and development. Synchronous spawning was observed both within and between the five reefs studied, which were separated by as much as 5° of latitude (500 km) or almost a quarter of the length of the Great Barrier Reef. The mass spawning of corals took place on only a few nights of the year, between the full and lastquarter moon in late spring. Maturation of gametes coincided with rapidly rising spring sea temperatures. Lunar and diel cycles may provide cues for the synchronization of gamete release in these species. The hour and night on which the greatest number of species and individuals spawned coincided with low-amplitude tides. Multispecific synchronous spawning, or “mass spawning”, of scleractinian and some alcyonacean corals represents a phenomenon which is, so far, unique in both marine and terrestrial communities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Abe, N.: Postlarval development of the coral Fungia actiniformis var. palawensis Doderlein. Palao trop. Biol. Stn. Stud. 1, 73–79 (1937)

    Google Scholar 

  • Atoda, K.: The larvae and post larval development of the reef building coral. Sci. Rep. Tôhuku Univ. (Ser. 4) 20, 105–121 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Babcock, R. C.: Reproduction and distribution of two species of Goniastrea (Scleractinia) from the Great Barrier Reef Province. Coral Reefs 2, 187–195 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bothwell, A. M.: Fragmentation, a means of asexual reproduction and dispersal in the coral genus Acropora (Scleractinia: Astrocoeniida: Acroporidae) — a preliminary report. Proc. 4th int. Symp. coral Reefs 2, 137–144 (1982). (Ed. by E. D. Gomez et al. Quezon City, Phillipines: Marine Sciences Center, University of the Phillipines)

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, J. N.: Pink stripe on the ocean. Nat. Hist., N.Y. 89, 62–63 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, R. D.: Cnidaria. In: Reproduction in marine invertebrates, Vol. 1. pp 133–139. Ed. by A. C. Giese and J. S. Pearse. New York: Academic Press 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Caspers, H.: Spawning periodicity and habitat of the palolo worm Eunice viridis (Polychaeta: Eunicidae) in the Samoan Islands. Mar. Biol. 79, 229–236 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Done, T. J.: Patterns in the distribution of coral communities across the central Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 1, 95–107 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, H. M.: Lunar periodicity in reproduction. Proc. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 95, 523–550 (1924)

    Google Scholar 

  • Grigg, R. W.: Reproductive ecology of two species of gorgonian corals: relations to vertical and geographical distribution. In: Reproductive ecology of marine invertebrates, No. 9. pp 41–59. Ed. by S. E. Stanyck. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press 1979

    Google Scholar 

  • Harriott, V.: Reproductive ecology of four scleractinian species at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 2, 9–18 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, P. L., R. C. Babcock, G. D. Bull, J. K. Oliver, C. C. Wallace and B. L. Willis: Mass spawning in tropical reef corals. Science, N.Y. 223, 1186–1189 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Heyward, A. J. and R. C. Babcock: Embryonic and post embryonic development of some hermatypic scleractinians. Proc. 5th int. coral Reef Congr. 2, p. 176 (1985). (Ed. by C. Gabrie et al. Moorea, French Polynesia: Antenne Museum-EPHE)

    Google Scholar 

  • Heyward, A. J. and R. C. Collins: Growth and sexual reproduction in the scleractinian coral Montipora digitata Dana. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 36, 441–446 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, R. J.: Environmental uncertainty and evolution of physiological adaptation in Colias butterflies. Am. Nat. 112, 999–1015 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Honnegger, T., J. Achermann, R. Stidwill, L. L. Littlefield, R. Baenninger and P. Tardent: Light controlled spawning in Phialidium hemisphaericum (Leptomedusae). In: Developmental and cellular biology of coelenterates, pp 83–88. Ed. by P. Tardent and R. Tardent. New York: Elsevier/North Holland 1980

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannes, R. E.: Reproductive strategies of coastal marine fishes in the tropics. Envir. Biol. Fish. 3, 65–84 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jokiel, P. L., R. Y. Ito and P. M. Liu: Night irradiance and synchronization of lunar release of planula larvae in the reef coral Pocillopora damicornis. Mar. Biol. 88, 167–174 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kojis, B. L. and N. J. Quinn: Aspects of sexual reproduction and larval development in the shallow water hermatypic coral Goniastrea australiensis (=favulus) (Edwards and Haime, 1857). Bull. mar. Sci. 31, 558–573 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kojis, B. L. and N. J. Quinn: Reproductive strategies in four species of Porites (Scleractinia) Proc. 4th int. Symp. coral Reefs 2, 145–152 (1982a). (Ed. by E. D. Gomez et al. Quezon City, Phillipines: Marine Sciences Center, University of the Phillipines)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kojis, B. L. and N. J. Quinn: Reproductive ecology of two faviid corals (Coelenterata, Scleractinia). Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 8, 251–255 (1982b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Korringa, P.: Relationship between the moon and periodicity in the breeding of marine animals. Ecol. Monogr. 17, 347–381 (1947)

    Google Scholar 

  • Korringa, P.: Lunar periodicity. Mem. geol. Soc. Am. 67, 917–933 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubota, H.: Synchronization of spawning in the crinoid, Comanthus japonica. In: Advances in invertebrate reproduction. pp 69–74. Ed. by W. H. Clark Jr. and T. S. Adams. New York: Elsevier/North Holland 1981

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, J. B.: Settlement behaviour of the planulae larvae of the hermatypic coral Favia fragum (Esper). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 15, 167–173 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, S. N. and T. A. Stephenson: The breeding of reef animals. Part. 1. The corals. Scient. Rep. Gt Barrier Reef Exped 3, 219–245 (1933)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, W. G. H.: Atlas of the Great Barrier Reef, 258 pp. New York; Elsevier 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • McDowall, R. M.: Lunar rhythms in aquatic animals. A general review. Tuatara 17, 133–144 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R. L.: Sperm chemotaxis in the hydromedusae. 1. Species-specificity and sperm behavior. Mar. Biol. 53, 99–114 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Naylor, E. and R. J. A. Atkinson: Pressure and the rhythmic behaviour of inshore marine animals. Symp. Soc. exp. Biol. 26, 395–415 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumann, D.: Entrainment of a semilunar rhythm by simulated tidal cycles of mechanical disturbance. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 35, 73–85 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumann, P.: Synchronization of reproduction in marine insects by tides. In: Advances in invertebrate reproduction, pp 21–35. Ed. by W. H. Clark, Jr. and T. S. Adams. New York: Elsevier/North Holland 1981

    Google Scholar 

  • Olhorst, S. L.: Jamaican coral reefs: important biological and physical parameters, 163 pp. Ph.D. thesis, Yale University 1980

  • Orton, J. H.: Sea temperature, breeding and distribution in marine animals. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 12, 339–366 (1920)

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiswig, H. M.: Porifera: sudden sperm release by tropical Demospongiae. Science, N.Y. 170, 538–539 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Richmond, R. H. and P. L. Jokiel: Lunar periodicity in larva release in the reef coral Pocillopora damicornis at Enewetak and Hawaii. Bull. mar. Sci. 34, 280–287 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinkevich, B. and Y. Loya: The reproduction of the Red Sea coral Stylophora pistillata. II. Synchronization in breeding and seasonality of planulae shedding. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 1, 145–152 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, J. W. A.: Intra and interspecific interactions of two species of Montipora, 80 pp. Hon. thesis, James Cook University of North Queensland 1981

  • Shlesinger, Y. and Y. Loya: Coral community reproductive patterns: Red Sea versus the Great Barrier Reef. Science, N.Y. 228, 1333–1335 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  • Szmant-Froelich, A., L. Riggs and M. Reutter: Sexual reproduction in Caribbean reef corals. Am. Zool. 23, p. 961 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tevis, J. Jr. and I. M. Newell: Studies on the biology and seasonal cycle of the giant red velvet mite, Dinothrombium pandorae (Acari: Thrombiidae). Ecology 43, 497–505 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Veron, J. E. N. and M. Pichon: Scleractinia of eastern Australia. Part IV: family Acroporidae. Monogr. Ser. Aust. Inst. mar. Sci. 5, 1–159 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, C. C.: Reproduction, recruitment and fragmentation in nine sympatric species of the coral genus Acropora. Mar. Biol. 88, 217–233 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshida, M., N. Honji and S. Ikegami: Darkness induced maturation and spawning in Spirocodon saltatrix. In: Developmental and cellular biology of coelenterates, pp 75–82. Ed. by P. Tardent and R. Tardent. New York: Elsevier/North Holland 1980

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Biology, James Cook University, 4811, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

    R. C. Babcock, G. D. Bull, P. L. Harrison, A. J. Heyward, J. K. Oliver, C. C. Wallace & B. L. Willis

Authors
  1. R. C. Babcock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. D. Bull
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. L. Harrison
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. J. Heyward
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. K. Oliver
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. C. C. Wallace
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. B. L. Willis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by G. F. Humphrey, Sydney

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Babcock, R.C., Bull, G.D., Harrison, P.L. et al. Synchronous spawnings of 105 scleractinian coral species on the Great Barrier Reef. Mar. Biol. 90, 379–394 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428562

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428562

Keywords

Search

Navigation