Coral Spawning

Corals have a very limited timeframe for reproduction. For most species, we are looking at just a few hours each year. So for reproduction to be successful, the release of gametes needs to be tighly synchronised among individuals of a given species. Here, the Red Sea coral Goniastrea edwardsi is releasing positively buoyant bundles of eggs and sperm, which will slowly float up to the surface of the ocean. After some agitation from waves and winds at the surface, the bundles will break apart and gametes from conspecifics will be able to meet and cross-fertilise.