Gametogenesis, brooding and planulation in laboratory populations of a temperate scleractinian coral Balanophyllia elegans maintained under contrasting photoperiod regimes

Summary

Males of Balanophyllia elegans Verrill, 1864 in Monterey Bay, California, spawn in the fall. Fertilization occurs within the females and the internally brooded embryos develop into large benthic planulae that are released mainly in the late winter. Field-collected corals were held in the laboratory under contrasting photoperiod regimes (ambient or in-phase, and 6 months out-of-phase) for 6.5 years. After two years in the laboratory corals planulated at the same time, independent of photoperiod. Corals show a cyclic pattern of later winter and early spring planulation that coincides with declining sea temperatures in Monterey Bay. Gametes appeared in the first laboratory generation at IS months and brooded embryos were found in females at 31 months under both light regimes. Planulae production by laboratory-reared corals peaked at the same time as that of the parents. These findings suggest that the temporal pattern of planulation is regulated by both endogenous and exogenous components that can be modified in some way by disturbance caused to the corals when collected or by the time of collection.

Key words:

• Coral reproduction
• photoperiod
• sea temperature