Feeding increases the number of offspring but decreases parental investment of Red Sea coral Stylophora pistillata.

ABSTRACT: Successful reproductive output and recruitment is crucial to coral persistence and recovery following anthropogenic stress. Feeding is known to alter coral physiology and increase resilience to bleaching.The goal of the study was to address the knowledge gap of the influence of feeding on reproductive output and offspring phenotype.Colonies of Stylophora pistillata from the Northern Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea) were fed an Artemia diet or unfed for 5 months during gametogenesis, fertilization, and brooding. In addition, time to settlement and mortality of planulae were assessed at water temperatures ranging from winter temperature (22°C) to three degrees above average peak summer temperature (31°C). A range of physiological parameters was measured in parents and offspring.In brood

SUBMITTER: Bellworthy J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6854114 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature