Journal
INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY
Volume 130, Issue 2, Pages 91-99Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7410.2011.00229.x
Keywords
reproduction; brooding; octocoral; cnidarian
Categories
Funding
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Canada Foundation for Innovation
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Although the reproductive biology and early life-history stages of deep-sea corals are poorly understood, such data are crucial for their conservation and management. Here, we describe the timing of larval release, planula behavior, metamorphosis, settlement, and early juvenile growth of two species of deep-sea soft corals from the northwest Atlantic. Live colonies of Gersemia fruticosa maintained under flow-through laboratory conditions released 79 planulae (1.5-2.5 mm long) between April and early June 2007. Peak planulation in G. fruticosa coincided with peaks in the chlorophyll concentration and deposition rates of planktic matter. Metamorphosis and settlement occurred 3-70 d post-release. The eight primary mesenteries typically appeared within 24 h, and primary polyps grew to a height of similar to 6-10 mm and a stalk diameter of similar to 1 mm within 2-3 months. Planulae of Duva florida (1.5-2.5 mm long) were extracted surgically from several colonies and were successfully reared in culture. Primary polyps reached a height of similar to 3-4mm within 2-3 months. No budding of primary polyps was observed in either species over 11-13 months of monitoring, suggesting a very slow growth rate.
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