Spathias, Hanae

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    Sexual reproduction in the Caribbean coral genus colpophyllia (Scleractinia: Mussidae) in Puerto Rico
    (2017) Spathias, Hanae; Weil, Ernesto F.; College of Arts and Sciences - Arts; Schizas, Nikolaos; Szmant, Alina; Department of Marine Sciences; Hernandez, William
    Three species of Caribbean scleractinian coral have been described within the genus Colpophyllia, C. natans, C. breviserialis and C. amaranthus, but only C. natans seems to be widely recognized by the scientific community. C. natans spawns during summer months throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. However, a preliminary histological study in Puerto Rico in 1999 revealed most colonies sampled had mature gametes in the spring, with few in summer. Based on species descriptions, the second potential species in Puerto Rico is the unfamiliar C. amaranthus (Houttuyn 1772). The controversial findings lead to this study’s objective, to characterize the gametogenetic cycle of C. natans and C. amaranthus via histological examination. To confirm correct species identification based on morphology, initial tissue samples were collected from tagged colonies in the summer and examined for the presence or absence of mature oocytes. Then, up to 30 colonies of each taxa were selected and tissue samples collected from at least five colonies of each species every month from July 2014 to June 2015. Samples were processed and examined following common histological protocols. Samples from the 1999 preliminary study were used to corroborate gametogenesis and compare fecundity estimates between years and species. Results indicate that both C. natans and C. amaranthus are simultaneous, syngonic, hermaphroditic broadcasters with one annual gametogenetic cycle, but with fully mature gametes during different seasons. Oogenesis began earlier than spermatogenesis and lasted ten to eleven months in both species. Oocytes and spermatocytes developed in the same mesentery with gametes reaching maturation simultaneously. Peak spawning occurred in September for C. natans and March for C. amaranthus, with an average mesenterial fecundity of 7 ± 5 and 6 ± 4 eggs/mesentery, respectively. These reproductive characteristics for C. natans and C. amaranthus are similar to those of other Caribbean Faviinae species and results support the validity of two species of Colpophyllia. A multivariate taxonomic revision of the genus is underway to re-describe both species and determine the status of C. breviserialis.