Life-history traits of Tubastraea coccinea: Reproduction, development, and larval competence

Autor(es)

Luz, Bruna L. P. ^{[1, 2]} ; Di Domenico, Maikon ^[2] ; Migotto, Alvaro E. ^[1] ; Kitahara, V, Marcelo

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] V, Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Marine Biol, Sao Sebastiao - Brazil

^[2] V, Univ Fed Parana, Coastal & Ocean Syst Grad Program, Pontal Do Parana - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION; v. 10, n. 13, p. 6223-6238, JUL 2020.
• Citações Web of Science: 4

Resumo

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 degrees 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. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 17/50229-5 - Corais de profundidade do Atlântico Sul: novas percepções a partir de um estudo interdisciplinar
• Beneficiário: Marcelo Visentini Kitahara
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 14/01332-0 - Filogenômica da ordem Scleractinia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa): relações entre evolução da ordem e mudanças climáticas
• Beneficiário: Marcelo Visentini Kitahara
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa de Pesquisa sobre Mudanças Climáticas Globais - Jovens Pesquisadores