fertilization ecology and early life stages in threatened ... · study species. threats to...
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Fertilization Ecology and Early Life Stages in Threatened
Caribbean Acroporid CoralsNicole D. Fogarty
Smithsonian Marine Station Fort Pierce, Florida
Acropora palmataElkhorn coral
Acropora cervicornisStaghorn coral
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Acroporid decline
Photo credit: Eric Borneman Photo credit: Eric Borneman
Study species
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Threats to acroporids Study species
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Acroporid restoration/ natural recruitment
Asexual propagation
Natural Sexual
recruitment
and
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Caribbean acroporid life cycle
Development Larvae (2-3 days)
Settlement (4-7 days)
4-8 years to reach sexual maturity
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Caribbean acroporid life cycle
Development Larvae (2-3 days)
Settlement (4-7 days)
4-8 years to reach sexual maturity
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Fertilization EcologySpawning Times
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Caribbean acroporid life cycle
Development Larvae (2-3 days)
Settlement (4-7 days)
4-8 years to reach sexual maturity
![Page 9: Fertilization Ecology and Early Life Stages in Threatened ... · Study species. Threats to acroporids Study species. Acroporid restoration/ natural recruitment Asexual propagation](https://reader034.vdocuments.site/reader034/viewer/2022052014/602be5a951f3a366774be940/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Methods
Photo: R. Ritson-Williams
Fertilization Ecology
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Methods Fertilization Ecology
Photo: R. Ritson-Williams
Photo: R. Ritson-Williams
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Fertilization EcologyIndividual crosses
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Fertilization EcologySelfing
*
* T-test p< 0.05
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Fertilization EcologyGamete aging
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Fertilization EcologyGamete aging
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Conclusions
*
1) A. cervicornis eggs are easily fertilized making them susceptible to polyspermic and self fertilization, but this ease of fertilization allows them to remain viable for a longer period of time.
2) A. palmata eggs are more difficult to fertilize and fertilization decreases significantly when gametes age.
Fertilization Ecology
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Caribbean acroporid life cycle
Development Larvae (2-3 days)
Settlement (5-7 days)
4-8 years to reach sexual maturity
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Larval EcologyLarvae Survival
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Caribbean acroporid life cycle
Development Larvae (2-3 days)
Settlement (4-7 days)
4-8 years to reach sexual maturity
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SettlementMethods
*
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SettlementSettlement and Metamorphosis
*
T- test* p < 0.001
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Conclusions
*
1) A. palmata and A. cervicornis are very different at many of the early life history stages.
A. palmata• more difficult to fertilize• fertilization decreases with age• does not self• slightly higher larval survival and significantly higher settlement rates
A. cervicornis• easy to fertilize• gametes viable after 4 hours • can self fertilize• susceptible to polyspermy • low settlement rates
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Management Strategies
*
1) Protect existing stands of genotypically diverse A. palmata.
2) Focus on restoration efforts that use genotypically diverse asexual fragments to create thickets of A. cervicornis and strive to protect herbivores that clean the substrate to encourage natural recruitment.
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AcknowledgementsFunding:
National Geographic SocietyPADI Foundation
American Academy of Underwater ScienceLerner-Gray
Smithsonian InstituteFSU Short Fellowship
FSU Bennison FellowshipFSU International Dissertation Research Fellowship
Folks that helped:Don Levitan
Steve VollmerVal Paul
Raphael WilliamsSusie ArnoldBob Steneck
Margaret MillerAlina SzmantCarl Safina
Randi RojanBeth StaufferJeanne BrownMike CarpenterBrendan BiggsCasey ter HorstWade CooperDave Ferrell
Nate JuePeter BouwmaTodd HitchinsLevitan Lab