Lunar Periodicity of Larval Release by Pocilloporid Corals in Southern Taiwan

本研究利用戶外流水式水箱收集幼生的方法，探討臺灣南部三種孵育幼生型珊瑚，即尖枝列孔珊瑚、細枝鹿角珊瑚和萼形柱珊瑚釋放幼生的月週期。尖枝列孔珊瑚和細枝鹿角珊瑚在新月至上弦月期間釋放幼生，呈現明顯的月週期；而萼形柱珊瑚在各月週期期間都有釋放幼生，但以下弦月期間釋放的幼生數量較多。三種鹿角珊瑚釋放幼生的月週期時間，可能與其配子和胚胎發育的月週期有關。對尖枝列孔珊瑚和萼形柱珊瑚而言，較晚釋出的幼生，其於24小時內在塑膠培養皿表面的附著率較高。未來將可利用這些珊瑚的生殖和幼生行為特性，取得大量成熟幼生，使其附著於適當基質並成長為群體後，再移植至被破壞礁區，進行珊瑚群聚重建的復育工作。

關鍵字

珊瑚；幼生釋放；月週期；附著

並列摘要

Lunar patterns of larval release by 3 brooding corals, Seriatopora hystrix, Pocillopora damicornis, and Stylophora pistillata, in southern Taiwan were investigated. Corals were collected and maintained in outdoor, flow-through systems to quantify nightly release of larvae. Planulation of S. hystrix and P. damicornis revealed a well-defined lunar pattern with planulae being released during the new moon and 1st quarter. Planulation of S. pistillata occurred throughout the lunar phase, but more planulae were released in the 2nd-quarter moon phase. It is likely that the lunar periodicity in planulation of the 3 pocilloporid coral species is a result of lunar periodicity in gamete and larval development. Larvae of S. hystrix and S. pistillata released later had higher rates of settlement within 24 h on plastic petri dishes. Based on the reproduction and settlement information available, it would be practical to obtain a large number of competent planulae, seed them on suitable substrata, and then transfer them to reefs for restoring damaged coral populations and communities.

並列關鍵字

Coral ； Planulation ； Lunar cycle ； Settlement

國際替代計量

Lunar Periodicity of Larval Release by Pocilloporid Corals in Southern Taiwan

全文下載

主題瀏覽