Sedimentation and the Reproductive Biology of the Hawaiian Reef-Building Coral <i>Montipora capitata</i>

Padilla‐Gamiño, Jacqueline L.; Hédouin, Laëtitia; Waller, Rhian G.; Smith, D. B.; Truong, William; Gates, Ruth D.

doi:10.1086/bblv226n1p8

Cited by 20 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…While there is debate about the role that solar irradiance plays in driving spawning synchrony (Keith et al, 2016;Van Woesik et al, 2006), it has been shown that insolation correlates to egg maturation (Padilla-Gamiño et al, 2014). In order to simulate this annual variation in photon intensity reaching the coral, 22-year irradiation averages from each study site were converted into data for LED programming.…”

Section: Solar Irradiancementioning

confidence: 99%

Inducing broadcast coral spawning ex situ: Closed system mesocosm design and husbandry protocol

et al. 2017

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For many corals, the timing of broadcast spawning correlates strongly with a number of environmental signals (seasonal temperature, lunar, and diel cycles). Robust experimental studies examining the role of these putative cues in triggering spawning have been lacking until recently because it has not been possible to predictably induce spawning in fully closed artificial mesocosms. Here, we present a closed system mesocosm aquarium design that utilizes microprocessor technology to accurately replicate environmental conditions, including photoperiod, seasonal insolation, lunar cycles, and seasonal temperature from Singapore and the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia. Coupled with appropriate coral husbandry, these mesocosms were successful in inducing, for the first time, broadcast coral spawning in a fully closed artificial ex situ environment. Four Acropora species (A. hyacinthus, A. tenuis, A. millepora, and A. microclados) from two geographical locations, kept for over 1 year, completed full gametogenic cycles ex situ. The percentage of colonies developing oocytes varied from ~29% for A. hyacinthus to 100% for A. millepora and A. microclados. Within the Singapore mesocosm, A. hyacinthus exhibited the closest synchronization to wild spawning, with all four gravid colonies releasing gametes in the same lunar month as wild predicted dates. Spawning within the GBR mesocosm commenced at the predicted wild spawn date but extended over a period of 3 months. Gamete release in relation to the time postsunset for A. hyacinthus, A. millepora, and A. tenuis was consistent with time windows previously described in the wild. Spawn date in relation to full moon, however, was delayed in all species, possibly as a result of external light pollution. The system described here could broaden the number of institutions on a global scale, that can access material for broadcast coral spawning research, providing opportunities for institutions distant from coral reefs to produce large numbers of coral larvae and juveniles for research purposes and reef restoration efforts.

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Section: Solar Irradiancementioning

confidence: 99%

Inducing broadcast coral spawning ex situ: Closed system mesocosm design and husbandry protocol

et al. 2017

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“…As one of the two most common reef-building corals in Kāneʻohe Bay, M. capitata is found in high density and across a variety of depths and reef habitats 51 , 52 . Furthermore, since M. capitata is highly synchronized in its gametogenesis and spawning behavior 59 , 60 and has more gametes per bundle than Montipora spp . (Table 1 , Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive plasticity of Hawaiian Montipora corals following thermal stress

Henley

Quinn

Bouwmeester

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Ocean warming, fueled by climate change, is the primary cause of coral bleaching events which are predicted to increase in frequency. Bleaching is generally damaging to coral reproduction, can be exacerbated by concomitant stressors like ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and can have lasting impacts to successful reproduction and potential adaptation. We compared morphological and physiological reproductive metrics (e.g., sperm motility, mitochondrial membrane integrity, egg volume, gametes per bundle, and fertilization and settlement success) of two Hawaiian Montipora corals after consecutive bleaching events in 2014 and 2015. Between the species, sperm motility and mitochondrial membrane potential had the most disparate results. Percent sperm motility in M. capitata, which declined to ~ 40% during bleaching from a normal range of 70–90%, was still less than 50% motile in 2017 and 2018 and had not fully recovered in 2019 (63% motile). By contrast, percent sperm motility in Montipora spp. was 86% and 74% in 2018 and 2019, respectively. This reduction in motility was correlated with damage to mitochondria in M. capitata but not Montipora spp. A major difference between these species is the physiological foundation of their UVR protection, and we hypothesize that UVR protective mechanisms inherent in Montipora spp. mitigate this reproductive damage.

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“…In , studies have shown that the coral in Kāneʻohe Bay show some resilience to sediment during gametogenesis and larval survival but not settlement. Padilla-Gamiño et al (2014) looked at the effect of sediment on gametogenesis in M. capitata and found no difference in gamete production between sites with high and low sediment regimes. Perez III et al (2014) exposed larvae of Pocillopora damicornis to substrate covered in varying levels of fine sediment (0.008–0.08 mm).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of short-term exposure to near shore stressors on the early life stages of the reef building coral Montipora capitata

Lager

Hagedorn

Rodgers

et al. 2020

PeerJ

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Successful reproduction and survival are crucial to the continuation and resilience of corals globally. As reef waters warm due to climate change, episodic largescale tropical storms are becoming more frequent, drastically altering the near shore water quality for short periods of time. Therefore, it is critical that we understand the effects warming waters, fresh water input, and run-off have on sexual reproduction of coral. To better understand the effects of these near shore stressors on Hawaiian coral, laboratory experiments were conducted at the Institute of Marine Biology to determine the independent effects of suspended sediment concentrations (100 mg l−1 and 200 mg l−1), lowered salinity (28‰), and elevated temperature (31 °C) on the successful fertilization, larval survival, and settlement of the scleractinian coral Montipora capitata. In the present study, early developmental stages of coral were exposed to one of three near shore stressors for a period of 24 h and the immediate (fertilization) and latent effects (larval survival and settlement) were observed and measured. Fertilization success and settlement were not affected by any of the treatments; however, larval survival was negatively affected by all of the treatments by 50% or greater (p > 0.05). These data show that early life stages of M. capitata may be impacted by near shore stressors associated with warming and more frequent storm events.

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Sedimentation and the Reproductive Biology of the Hawaiian Reef-Building Coral Montipora capitata

Cited by 20 publications

References 46 publications

Inducing broadcast coral spawning ex situ: Closed system mesocosm design and husbandry protocol

Inducing broadcast coral spawning ex situ: Closed system mesocosm design and husbandry protocol

Reproductive plasticity of Hawaiian Montipora corals following thermal stress

The impact of short-term exposure to near shore stressors on the early life stages of the reef building coral Montipora capitata

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