From hendee@aoml.noaa.gov Tue Dec 12 09:12:18 2000 Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 09:09:00 -0400 (EDT) From: Jim Hendee To: coral Subject: Coral Spawning Report (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 16:34:28 -0600 From: George Schmahl To: Coral List Subject: Coral Spawning Report Coral spawning report ? Flower Garden Banks, Northwest Gulf of Mexico - August 2000 Researchers, resources managers, and recreational divers witnessed the spectacular event of the annual mass coral spawning at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary during the evenings of August 21-23, 2000. Details of the spawning are as follows: (Times given are Central Standard Time) August 21, 2000 (7th night after the August full moon) - East Flower Garden Bank, 60-80' depth 2000 (or earlier) - 2220hrs ? Diploria strigosa 2030 (or earlier) ? 2130(+) hrs ? Montastraea cavernosa males 2055-2200 hrs ? M. cavernosa females 2145-2230 ? M. franksii 2220-2300 ? Stephanocoenia intercepta males 2230-2300 ? S. intercepta females 2300-2330 ? M. faveolata August 22, 2000 - East Flower Garden Bank 2030 (or earlier) - - D. strigosa 2200 - - M. franksii 2230 ? ? - S. intercepta males 2230 - ? - S. intercepta females 2300-2330 - M. faveolata August 23, 2000 - West Flower Garden Bank 2030 ? 2110 - Colpophyllia natans (not many colonies) Other spawning species observed: August 21, 2000 Ophioderma rubicundum ? ruby brittle star (evening) Spirobranchus giganteus - Christmas tree worms (evening) Ectyoplasia ferox - volcano (or octopus) sponge - males (day) - Note: females had extruded eggs around 8/17, and eggs were still present on many colonies. This is the first documented sighting of sperm release at the Flower Garden Banks (eggs had been observed in previous years). August 22, 2000 2030-2100 - O. rubicundum ? ruby brittle stars - males 2100 ? 2110 ? O. rubicundum - ruby brittle stars ? females No interaction noted between males and females. Approximately 100 individuals were observed in one dive on top of coral heads ? up to 5 individuals per head. Ectyoplasia ferox ? volcano sponge - male (day) - see note above. August 23, 3000 O. rubicundum - ruby brittle star (evening) 2030 ? 2100 ? unidentified large orange/red brittle stars 60 -70 individuals were observed, multiple individuals per head. Observed multiple males on one coral head or one female interacting/interlocking with one male. Males hold arms up in water when spawning In both species of brittle stars, females raise up on tentacles and convulse as red eggs are released. G.P. Schmahl & Emma Hickerson (FGBNMS) with assistance from Dr. Peter Vize and Derek Hagman (University of Texas) -- G.P. Schmahl Sanctuary Manager National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 216 W. 26th Street, Suite 104 Bryan, TX 77803 ***NOTE NEW AREA CODE!*** (979) 779-2705 (979) 779-2334 (fax) george.schmahl@noaa.gov http://www.flowergarden.nos.noaa.gov