Mass Spawning in Tropical Reef Corals

1984/03/16 by Peter L. Harrison, Russell C. Babcock, Gordon Douglas Bull +3 · 5 citations
Environmental Science · #Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies #Marine and fisheries research #Coastal and Marine Management

paper · doi:10.1126/science.223.4641.1186

openalex publication_date 1984/03/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04

Abstract

Synchronous multispecific spawning by a total of 32 coral species occurred a few nights after late spring full moons in 1981 and 1982 at three locations on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The data invalidate the generalization that most corals have internally fertilized, brooded planula larvae. In every species observed, gametes were released; external fertilization and development then followed. The developmental rates of externally fertilized eggs and longevities of planulae indicate that planulae may be dispersed between reefs.

Citations

• Reproductive seasonality, settlement, and post-settlement mortality of Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus), at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef

Cited by

• Palatability and Chemical Defense of Marine Invertebrate Larvae
• Mass Spawning by Green Algae on Coral Reefs
• Sexual Reproduction of Scleractinian Corals
• Synchronous spawnings of 105 scleractinian coral species on the Great Barrier Reef
• Carden Wallace [wikipedia]