Reproductive traits and Microstructure of Acropora digitifera and Acropora gemmifera (Scleractinia, Anthozoa) inhabiting the Northern Red Sea (Hurghada, Egypt).

Gametogenic development and synchronous spawning of the acroporid corals Acropora cytherea and Acropora tenuis in the Red Sea

“…This study was presented to provide data on the reproductive characteristics and spawning pattern of two reef-building acroporid coral species, Acropora cytherea and Acropora tenuis (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) in Hurghada, Egyptian Red Sea coast during the years 2018 and 2019. Despite the highly abundance and diversity of Acropora species in the Red Sea reefs (Ghallab et al, 2020) along with their ease of sampling and study, only very few studies have described gametogenic development of this genus in the Red Sea (Shlesinger & Loya, 1985;Bouwmeester et al, 2011;Rashad et al, 2020). In a long-term study (10 years), Shlesinger et al (1998) examined the reproductive characteristics of 23 species of scleractinian Red Sea corals (seven families) comprising six species that belong to genus Acropora at Eilat, northern Red Sea.…”

“…Many dominant species, found in the northern Red Sea, spawn in variable times, months and seasons with lunar cycle's relation (Bouwmeester et al, 2011). However, studies related to spawning timing and synchronization of scleractinian corals in Egyptian Red Sea water are still limited (Rashad et al, 2020).…”