video of aquacultured corals spawning

[sl-atl]

The below link has a description and videos of aquacultured Staghorn (Acropora cervicornis) corals spawning at Molasses Reef in the Florida Keys. These colonies were originally started by the Coral Restoration Foundation at their undersea nursery as small fragments in either the spring of 2005 or the spring of 2006, and were transplanted to their current location at Molasses Reef in the summer of 2007.


http://www.coralrestoration.org/CRF/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12:articlespawningcorals&catid=4:categorynewsreefblog&Itemid=13

 

[HarrsCars]

Thats very cool.

 

[rolodex1]

That is very cool! I wonder what causes them to spawn in the wild, but not in our tanks?

 

[Step Johns]

That was amazing

 

[sl-atl]

It's very cool that they were spawning at the same time as the other staghorns in the area, even though they were cultured from corals miles away. I wonder if the lunar cycles have any influence... that's something I currently can't afford to replicate.

 

[Algae Growwer]

Awesome nice to some positive action from man being on the reefs not just destroying them.

 

[khaosinc]

very cool

 

[smb2]

In the wild coral spawning is controlled by lunar cycles and drop in water temp. There may also be released hormones. Some corals release sperm and eggs, others fertilized "packets" and still others small miniature corals. Diving at night to see the coral spawn you will often see sponges, sea urchins etc going off as well.

Just getting ready....

The release...

 

[DCG1286]

Awesome!!!

 

[Johnnydee]

So beautiful!

 

[cj hill]

that is damm cool

 

[Luiz Rocha]

Very nice video and photos! Yes, it is really nice to see that something is being done, especially with Caribbean Acroporas that are doing so bad.

As a curiosity, most coral species spawn only one night per year. The spawn is en-mass, everybody spawns at the same time to overwhelm predators and maximize survivorship. In addition to lunar and temperature clues, they are also influenced by tides and light cycles, but the exact mechanisms are not known.

 

[smb2]

An amazing accomplishment to be sure. The question remains, especially in Florida, as to whether or not there is suitable substrate and water quality for young coral to take hold and survive.
We generally have two lunar cycles a year in Sept and Oct to see the spawning. Everything on the reef seems jazzed up for spawning. The brittle stars are everywhere "catching" the eggs [not a great image]
and spawning at the same time. If you watch one area for a long time you may be lucky to see it go off or you may miss it completely. Generally we start diving at 10 pm and go to 1-2am. Even if the coral doesn't cooperate there is still lots happening.

 

[Wilberheim]

Thats incredible. It's good to know there is at least a glimmer of hope.

 

[nGo]

Awesome! :fish1:

 

[sl-atl]

SMB- those are really amazing photos! Thanks for sharing. Is anyone in your area trying to capture and grow out the spawn?

 

[eznet2u]

That is very cool! I wonder what causes them to spawn in the wild, but not in our tanks?

http://www.cvreefers.org/showthread.php?t=2522&highlight=spawning&page=10

Read down about 3/4 of the way. Joe Weatherson has had several spawning events.
His tank is a wonder to behold. I have been over there when the lights go off. He has them set up to mimic a sunrise and sunset.
I wonder if this is what is triggering the event.

 

[smb2]

Thanks for sharing. Is anyone in your area trying to capture and grow out the spawn?

There is a research group called CARMABI and they do capture spawn for study. Below is a link regarding some of their present projects. They are usually the group I dive with on spawning nights; its fun to learn what they are doing and gain a little more knowledge about the reef.

http://www.researchstationcarmabi.org/projects

 

[bz350]

thats sweet. hopefully they can re-seed the reef and get somewhere.

 

[reefkeeperaxm]

Very cool, thanks for posting!