Journal article
A coral spawning calendar for Sesoko Station, Okinawa, Japan
Galaxea: Journal of Coral Reef Studies, Vol.24(1), pp.41-49
2022
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Abstract
Sesoko Station, Okinawa, has been the site of many significant advances in coral reproductive research and it continues to be a preferred destination for both Japanese and international researchers. Consequently, there are decades of spawning observations, which we present and explore here with the aim of making it easier to predict when species spawn at Sesoko Station. The data include over 700 spawning observations from 87 species of reef-building hermatypic corals. Almost all spawning occurred between dusk and dawn, with most spawning activity concentrated in the 2 to 4 hours after sunset. Some phylogenetic patterns were evident: most Acropora species spawn on or around the 6th full moon after December 21st (the northern hemisphere winter solstice); spawning in common species of merulinids and Porites appears to be concentrated around the 7th full moon and spawning in the fungiids around the 8th and subsequent full moons. The night of peak spawning with respect to the night of the full moon varied considerably among years in common Acropora species, but was dependent on the calendar date of the full moon in May or June. Therefore, despite an extended spawning season of over three months and considerable variation in the calendar date of spawning in many species among years, the month and night of spawning are reasonably predictable for many species enhancing the value of Sesoko Station as a site for coral reproductive research.
Details
- Title
- A coral spawning calendar for Sesoko Station, Okinawa, Japan
- Creators
- Andrew H Baird - ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook UniversityAlasdair J Edwards - School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle UniversityJames R Guest - School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle UniversitySaki Harii - Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the RyukyusMasayuki Hatta - Department of Biology, Ochanomizu UniversityLiam Lachs - School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle UniversityHanaka Mera - ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook UniversityFrederic Sinniger - Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the RyukyusDavid Abrego (Author) - Southern Cross UniversityOr Ben-Zvi - School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv UniversityOmri Bronstein - The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv UniversityPatrick C Cabaitan - The Marine Science Institute, University of the PhilippinesVivian R Cumbo - Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie UniversityGal Eyal - ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Biological Sciences, The University of QueenslandLee Eyal-Shaham - The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan UniversityBar Feldman - School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv UniversityJoana Figueiredo - Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Department of Marine and Environmental Science, Nova Southeastern UniversityJean-François Flot - Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université libre de BruxellesMila Grinblat - ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook UniversityAndrew Heyward - Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Australian Institute of Marine ScienceMichio Hidaka - Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, University of the RyukyusMamiko Hirose - School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai UniversityAkira Iguchi - Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)Naoko Isomura - Department of Bioresources Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Okinawa CollegeRobert A Kinzie - Department of Biology, University of Hawaii at ManoaSeiya Kitanobo - Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the RyukyusAlyson Kuba - ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook UniversityOren Levy - The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan UniversityYossi Loya - School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv UniversityTakuma Mezaki - Kuroshio Biological Research FoundationAmin R Mohamed - The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of QueenslandMasaya Morita - Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the RyukyusSatoshi Nojima - Amakusa Marine Biological Laboratory, Kyushu UniversityYoko Nozawa - Biodiversity Research Center, Academia SinicaRian Prasetia - Department of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeEneour Puill-Stephan - Sustainable Research VesselCatalina Ramirez-Portilla - Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université libre de BruxellesHanna Rapuano - School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv UniversityYaeli Rosenberg - The Laboratory for Molecular Marine Ecology, Bar-Ilan UniversityYusuke Sakai - Division of Morphogenesis, National Institute for Basic BiologyKazuhiko Sakai - Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the RyukyusTom Shlesinger - Institute for Global Ecology, Florida Institute of TechnologyTullia I Terraneo - Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyIrina Yakovleva - National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of SciencesHiromi H Yamamoto - Okinawa Churashima Research Center, Okinawa Churashima FoundationKiyoshi Yamazato - Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus
- Publication Details
- Galaxea: Journal of Coral Reef Studies, Vol.24(1), pp.41-49
- Publisher
- The Japanese Coral Reef Society
- Identifiers
- 991012979698802368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article