A study on the spawning season of 3 \(\textit{Acropora}\) species in Nha Trang bay, Southern waters of Vietnam

Tuan Vo Si; Lam Ho Son; Tu Tram Dang Tran; Hoang Phan Kim; Than Doan Van; Dat Mai Xuan

doi:10.15625/1859-3097/16354

Author affiliations

Authors

Vo Si Tuan Vietnam Seaculture Association, Hanoi, Vietnam; Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Ho Son Lam Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Dang Tran Tu Tram Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Phan Kim Hoang Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Doan Van Than Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam
Mai Xuan Dat Institute of Oceanography, VAST, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15625/1859-3097/16354

Keywords:

Maturity, spawning season, moon cycle, Acropora, Nha Trang bay.

Abstract

Specimens for the study on coral spawning of three species were collected at two sites in Nha Trang bay, South Vietnam, in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. The determination of spawning seasons was based on observations of gonadogenesis development of A. florida and A. robusta and variation of egg average sizes of these two species and A. hyacinthus. Data analysis and comparative discussions allow us to assume that the 3 Acropora species exhibited single cycle spawning annually and their spawning period occurred in March/April between the full moon and crescent moon. However, their maturity periods were not the same, starting before and ending after the full moon for A. florida and A. robusta but starting after the full moon and lasting until the crescent moon for A. hyainthus. Further studies are needed to improve the understanding of coral spawning and support coral restoration using sexual reproduction.

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