Regional variability in reproductive traits of the Acropora hyacinthus species complex in the Western Pacific Region.

ABSTRACT: Understanding natural variations in the life history traits of reef-building corals under different environmental conditions is an area of active research. This study compares variability in the reproductive and genetic traits of the hermaphroditic broadcast spawning coral Acropora hyacinthus, from the Western Pacific Region, across six different latitudes [Japan (33° and 31°N), Taiwan (23°, 22° and 21°N), and Indonesia (5°S)]. Egg sizes among corals in the lowest latitude studied were significantly larger than those at high latitudes, while the mean number of eggs were significantly different only among high latitude and two out of the three mid latitude locations studied. Egg numbers were significantly negatively correlated with egg and testis volumes, indicating reproductive trade-offs

SUBMITTER: Santacruz-Castro AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6350966 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature