Life histories and population dynamics of foliaceous corals in

• Main Authors: Fan,Tung-Yung, 樊同雲
• Other Authors: Dai,Chang-Feng
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 1996
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/88654407129657506437

博士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 海洋學系 === 84 === The sexual reproduction, life histories and population dynamics of four species of foliaceous corals, Echinopora lamellosa, Echinophyllia aspera, Mycedium elephantotus, and Merulina ampliata, in Yenliao Bay northern Taiwan and Nanwan Bay southern Taiwan were studied. The four coral species are hermaphroditic broadcast spawners. Colony size at sexual maturity was about 5-10 cm in diameter. Mature colonies have an annual gametogenic cycle that culminates in a brief period of spawning. The timing of gametogenesis and spawning of four species at the lower latitude (Nanwan Bay) was later than that at the higher latitude (Yenliao Bay). It suggests that the timing of reproductive activities may be not simply controlled by sea temperature and photoperiod. The spawning of transplanted colonies of Echinopora lamellosa and Echinophyllia aspera in Yenliao Bay, as well as E. lamellosa and Mycedium elephantotus in Nanwan Bay occurred at the time different from original populations. However, the spawning of transplanted colonies of E. aspera in Nanwan Bay remained unchanged after being transplanted for 3 years. The inconsistency among transplanted colonies of different species and between native populations and transplanted colonies suggests that the long- term and short-term effects of environmental factors on the reproductive timing of these coral species may vary among sites and species. The relative cover of population and percentage of colony in larger size classes of Echinopora lamellosa and Echinophyllia aspera at Maoao in Yenliao Bay were larger than those at Tiaoshi in Nanwan Bay.