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Temporal patterns of larval settlement and survivorship of two broadcast-spawning acroporid corals

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Abstract

Acroporid corals are the main reef-building corals that provide three-dimensional habitats for other reef organisms, but are decreasing on many reefs worldwide due to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. In this study, temporal patterns of larval settlement and survivorship of two broadcast-spawning acroporid coral species, Acropora muricata and A. valida, were examined through laboratory rearing experiments to better understand the potential for larval dispersal of this important coral group. Many larvae were attached (but not metamorphosed) to settlement tiles on the first examination 3–4 days after spawning (AS). The first permanent larval settlement (i.e. metamorphosed and permanently settled juvenile polyps) occurred at 5–6 days AS, and most larval settlement (85–97% of total) occurred within 9–10 days AS. Larval survivorship decreased substantially to around 50% by the first week of the experiment and to approximately 10% by the second to third week. The rates of larval attachment, settlement, and the initial drop in survivorship of larvae suggest that effective dispersal of some acroporid species may largely be completed within the first few weeks AS.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by an Australian Research Council Large Grant to P·H. and a Southern Cross University postgraduate student grant to Y. N. We thank the staff of HIRS and SCU for their hospitality and support. We also thank Dr S. Ward for her help and Prof M. Tokeshi and Dr James D. Reimer for comments on the manuscript. The experiments performed here complied with the current laws of Australia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Institute on Kuroshio, 560 Nishidomari, Otsuki, Kochi, 788-0333, Japan

    Yoko Nozawa

  2. Coral Reef Research Centre, School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia

    Peter L. Harrison

Authors
  1. Yoko Nozawa
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  2. Peter L. Harrison
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Correspondence to Yoko Nozawa.

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Communicated by S.D. Connell.

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Nozawa, Y., Harrison, P.L. Temporal patterns of larval settlement and survivorship of two broadcast-spawning acroporid corals. Mar Biol 155, 347–351 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-008-1034-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-008-1034-8

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