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- Title
Life‐history traits of Tubastraea coccinea: Reproduction, development, and larval competence.
- Authors
Luz, Bruna L. P.; Di Domenico, Maikon; Migotto, Alvaro E.; Kitahara, Marcelo V.
- Abstract
The sun coral Tubastraea coccinea Lesson, 1829 (Dendrophylliidae) is a widely distributed shallow‐water scleractinian that has extended its range to non‐native habitats in recent decades. With its rapid spread, this coral is now one of the main invasive species in Brazil. Its high invasive capability is related to opportunistic characteristics, including several reproductive strategies that have allowed it to disperse rapidly and widely. To better understand the reproductive biology of T. coccinea and aid in developing management strategies for invaded areas, we investigated aspects of its reproductive performance and life cycle, including the effects of colony size, seawater temperature and salinity, and lunar periodicity on offspring production and larval metamorphosis competence. A total of 18,139 offspring were released in different developmental stages, mainly from the larger colonies, which also produced larvae with longer competence periods. The main reproductive peak occurred during the First Quarter and New Moon phases and was highest in water temperatures around 26°C. Together, these results help to explain the rapid expansion of T. coccinea into non‐native habitats such as the Caribbean and southwestern Atlantic, and will inform actions of the recent Brazilian National Plan for the prevention, eradication, control, and monitoring of sun corals.
- Subjects
BRAZIL; OCEAN temperature; SEAWATER salinity; LUNAR phases; WATER temperature; PERFORMANCE; LIFE cycles (Biology); DEEP-sea corals
- Publication
Ecology & Evolution (20457758), 2020, Vol 10, Issue 13, p6223
- ISSN
2045-7758
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/ece3.6346