Coral Reproduction Depends on Close Proximity, Study Finds
A new study shows that corals need to be within just a few meters of each other to successfully reproduce, highlighting their vulnerability in a warming world. Led by Professor Peter Mumby from The University of Queensland, the international research measured the success of a natural coral spawning event in March of this year.
"We were surprised to find that corals need to be within 10 meters of each other, and ideally even closer, for fertilization to occur," said Professor Mumby. "While we knew corals shouldn't be too far apart, we didn't realize just how close they need to be."
The study raised concerns as climate change impacts, such as coral bleaching, are killing corals and reducing their density, potentially causing corals to be too far apart to reproduce successfully.
To evaluate reproduction success, the research team placed containers above 26 coral colonies on a reef in Palau, Micronesia, during a spawning event when mostly hermaphroditic corals released eggs and sperm. "The containers captured the corals' eggs, which drifted to the surface while following the tide," Professor Mumby explained. "Though the eggs couldn’t escape, sperm could enter the container and fertilize them."
After an hour of drifting, the team noted the proportion of fertilized eggs for each type of coral and recorded the distance to similar established corals. Fertilization success averaged 30% when corals were very close. However, it dropped to less than 10% when the corals were 10 meters apart and was nearly zero at 20 meters.
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Dr. Christopher Doropoulos of CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, emphasized the importance of coral reproduction for population resilience and evolution. "In the future, we may need to assist corals in continuing this crucial life process," he said. "Understanding the importance of local coral density provides clear targets for interventions like coral restoration."
Professor Mumby has also been involved in efforts to repair damaged coral reefs. "Our work over the last five years on the Great Barrier Reef, as part of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program, is helping to define these critical thresholds for restoration practitioners to set targets for coral density and ensure the survival of coral populations."