Early life history of the Caribbean coral Orbicella faveolata (Scleractinia: Merulinidae)

Abstract

Abstract. Introduction: Rehabilitation of hermatypic coral species that have declined in the Caribbean in recent decades is a priority. Production of sexual recruits is considered the best restoration method to aid affected populations. Objective: To gain knowledge of early life stages of Orbicella faveolata and to enhance production of new sexual recruits. Methods: Gamete bundles from the coral species O. faveolata were collected over three years (2016, 2018, and 2019) from Los Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo Natural National Park, Cartagena, Colombia. Assisted fertilization, larval rearing, settlement (onto crustose coralline algae, CCA) and post settlement survival in laboratory conditions were monitored. Results: Embryonic and larval development were documented over 55 hours after the first cleavage, when larvae were fully developed and started pre-settlement behavior. Settlement began 7 days after first cleavage and after 37 days polyps had acquired zooxanthellae. Larval settlement was higher on Lythophyllum congestum and Titanoderma prototypum than in response to Porolithon pachydermum, Neogoniolithon sp., Hydrolithon sp., and Lythophyllum sp. Larvae did not settle on dead coral or on the negative control (sterilized seawater). After the first week post settlement survival was 59 % amongst O. faveolata recruits. During the second week, survival dropped to 42 %, and was further reduced to 0 % at the end of the third week. Conclusions: O. faveolata larvae require cues from certain CCA species to settle, they do not settle in absence of CCA. Increased larvae availability is possible through assisted fertilization in the laboratory, however, due to the high mortality in early post-settlement phases, additional research needs to be conducted in order to scale up larvae production and improve understanding of the cues that enhance settlement and the factors which cause post-settlement mortality.

Effects of elevated temperatures and health status of the crustose coralline algae Hydrolithon boergesenii (Corallinales: Mastophoroideae) on the larval settlement of Diploria labyrinthiformis (Scleractinia: Faviinae)

“…Thus, results from this study showed that within the rst 7 days after reaching competence to settle, average mortality is two-four-fold higher compared to the percentage of settlement, further suggesting this period is a bottleneck of survivorship for D. labyrinthiformis. Other studies conducted for Caribbean (Rylaarsdam 1983;Vermeij and Sandin 2008;Alvarado-Chacon et al 2020) and Indo Paci c corals show similar results (Babcock 1985;Babcock and Mundy 1996;Babcock et al 2003;Wilson and Harrison 2005). Thus, our results are consistent with the nding that high mortality rates during the initial stages of their life cycle are a critical part of life-history traits in corals (Trapon et al 2013).…”

Effects of elevated temperatures and health status of the crustose coralline algae Hydrolithon boergesenii (Corallinales: Mastophoroideae) on the larval settlement of Diploria labyrinthiformis (Scleractinia: Faviinae)

“…Thus, results from this study showed that within the rst 7 days after reaching competence to settle, average mortality is two-four-fold higher compared to the percentage of settlement, further suggesting this period is a bottleneck of survivorship for D. labyrinthiformis. Other studies conducted for Caribbean (Rylaarsdam 1983;Vermeij and Sandin 2008;Alvarado-Chacon et al 2020) and Indo Paci c corals show similar results (Babcock 1985;Babcock and Mundy 1996;Babcock et al 2003;Wilson and Harrison 2005). Thus, our results are consistent with the nding that high mortality rates during the initial stages of their life cycle are a critical part of life-history traits in corals (Trapon et al 2013).…”

Seasonal Proteome Variations in Orbicella faveolata Reveal Molecular Thermal Stress Adaptations

“…This study was conducted at the inner-shelf reef Enrique (17°57.15′ N, 67°02.55′ W) and the mid-shelf reef San Cristobal (17°56.30′ N, 67°04.45′ W) in La Parguera Puerto Rico ( Figure 1 ). Twelve colonies of O. faveolata were collected by SCUBA divers at depths ranging from 1 to 3 m, ensuring a 3 m distance between sampling locations to minimize sampling genetic clones [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. The colonies were tagged by inserting a nail into the substrate near the colony and attaching a plastic tag with a unique identification number to the stainless steel nail.…”