Coral Reproduction Through Stress Factors

[Travis L. Stevens]

As many of us know, many corals will begin to reproduce in some form or another when the conditions are not ideal. A few examples are splitting, budding, and polyp bailout. But which corals are reproducing because of stress and which are reproducing because they are content and happy? In fact, this probably shouldn't be limited to just corals, but all vertebrates and invertebrates. Will you help me brainstorm? Here is what I have so far.

Stress Factor

Invertebrates
Starfish: Loss of arms through unfavorable conditions and improper handling
Cucumbers: Splitting through unfavorable conditions
Corallimorphs: Polyp Bailout, budding from moving, splitting from unfavorable conditions
Anemones: Splitting because of unfavorable conditions
Zoanthidae: Polyp Bailout from unfavorable conditions

Fish
No known available fish that procreate due to stress factors

Corals
Soft Corals
Unknown

LPS Corals
Mussidae and Fungiidae: Anthocauli
Mussidae and Euphyllidae: Polyp Bailout

SPS Corals
Most: Breakage because of improper handling

Contentness Factor

Invertebrates
Crustaceans and Molusks: Sexual Reproduction

Fish
All: Sexual Reproduction

Corals
Soft Corals
All: Forms of splitting, budding, etc

LPS and SPS Corals
All: Sexual Reproduction

 

[Dwayne]

I think anemones should be placed in both groups.

Asexual reproduction is most likely caused by stress.

I wonder if sexual reproduction is also a sign of "contentness". My anemone spawns in the fall and the spring.

Since I only have a male, I can't claim true reproduction, but the activity is there.

 

[Dwayne]

What about Corallimorphs that spread, but don't "bail"? Would this not be "contentness"?

Maybe I've misunderstood the question.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

No, you're probably right on. This is more or less a brainstorm session. And I was rather vague as well in my initial post.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Bump for the next week. I'm sure that there are a lot of things that I am missing here.