Regional and species specific sexual reproductive patterns of three zooxanthellate scleractinian corals across the Eastern Tropical Pacific |
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| Authors: | Jeimy D. Santiago‐Valentín Susan B. Colley Peter W. Glynn Amilcar L. Cupul‐Magaña Ramon A. López‐Pérez Fabián A. Rodríguez‐Zaragoza Francisco Benítez‐Villalobos Eric Bautista‐Guerrero Denisse A. Zavala‐Casas Alma P. Rodríguez‐Troncoso |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Laboratorio de Ecología Marina, Centro Universitario de la Costa, Universidad de Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico;2. Louisiana State University, Health New Orleans, New Orleans, LA;3. Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL;4. Laboratorio de Ecosistemas Costeros, Departamento de Hidrobiología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, San Rafael Atlixco, Mexico;5. Laboratorio de Ecosistemas Marinos y Acuicultura (LEMA), Departamento de Ecología, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico;6. Universidad del Mar, Ciudad Universitaria, Distrito de San Pedro Pochutla, Puerto ángel Oaxaca, Mexico;7. Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Estación Mazatlán), Mazatlán, Mexico |
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| Abstract: | Sexual reproduction of zooxanthellate scleractinian corals in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) is influenced by the interactive effects of regional and local oceanographic conditions, as well as a variety of other environmental factors. Differences in spatial and temporal gamete development and reproductive patterns of three widespread scleractinian corals of this region—Pocillopora damicornis (branching colony morphology, characterized as hermaphrodite broadcaster), Pavona gigantea (massive colonies, characterized as gonochoric broadcaster/sequential co‐sexually hermaphroditic) and Porites panamensis (encrusting colonies, characterized as gonochoric brooder)—were evaluated at local and regional scales across the ETP. This area extended from the Gulf of California (24°N) to the southern coast of Ecuador (–1°S), including offshore islands, using existing data pooled from prior studies. Predictive models were employed based on environmental variables: sea surface temperature, daylight hours, diffuse attenuation co‐efficient at 490 nm and photosynthetically active radiation. Datasets were extracted from satellite images ( https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov ) and analysed using WAM_STATIST ver. 6.33® software to obtain monthly average data from each site. The spatial (region, sub‐region and site) and seasonal (wet, dry) variation in reproductive activity (% colonies with gametes) differed among the three species; significant interactions were season × sub‐region for P. damicornis, season × site (sub‐region) for P. gigantea, and season × site for P. panamensis, for which sub‐region was not considered as a factor. The predictive models also suggest that gamete production/maturation of P. damicornis and P. gigantea is influenced by local differences in sea surface temperature and daylight hours. Porites panamensis was not correlated with any environmental variable examined. Variations in local and regional reproductive developmental patterns are likely an acclimatization response by each species imposed by the timing and duration of local stressor events. This analysis has provided insights into the diverse local and regional physical drivers that affect species responses and acclimatization in sexual reproduction across the ETP. |
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| Keywords: | environmental variables gamete development
Pavona
Pocillopora
Porites
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