Abstract
Coral reefs are expected to be severely impacted by rising seawater temperatures associated with climate change. The fertilization and early embryogenesis of four reef-building coral species representing three Indo-Pacific families were examined in a series of laboratory experiments where temperatures were increased up to 5–6°C at ambient. High levels of fertilization and normal embryogenesis were observed for Favites abdita, Favites chinensis and Mycedium elephantotus at temperatures to 32°C (+5°C) and embryos developed normally until the 5th cell cleavage. Acropora millepora was the only species to be affected by higher temperatures, exhibiting significantly reduced fertilization and a higher frequency of embryonic abnormalities at 32°C (+4°C), and fertilization ceased altogether at 34°C (+6°C). Early cell cleavage rates increased with temperature up to 32°C for all species.
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Acknowledgments
Research of A. J. Heyward supported by the Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, and in part by the World Bank and the Global Environmental Facility through the Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management program, Restoration and Remediation working group. He is grateful for Dr K Sakai’s assistance and to N. Namizaki and H. Yamamoto for help with the field work.
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Negri, A.P., Marshall, P.A. & Heyward, A.J. Differing effects of thermal stress on coral fertilization and early embryogenesis in four Indo Pacific species. Coral Reefs 26, 759–763 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-007-0258-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-007-0258-2