Sexual reproduction of the scleractinian coral merulina ampliata in southern taiwan

摘要

Sexual reproduction of the scleractinian coral Merulina ampliata in Nanwan Bay, sotuh- ern Taiwan was studied form 1990 to 1993. M. Ampliata is a hermaphoriditc broadcast spawner. Colony size at sexual maturity was 5.0-10.0 cm in diameter. Mature egg size and fecundity were 210 μm and 952 eggs cm~-2 yr~-1, respectively. Monthly changes of mean oocyte diameters and frequencies of colonies containing different stages of ga- metes indicated a brief annual gametogenic cycle. Oogenesis began in June 1991 and May 1992. Spermatogenesis began 1 mo later than oogenesis.