Rapid egg transport following coral mass spawning at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

During the mass spawning event at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, coral and palolo worm eggs exhibited rapid dispersal within hours of release. Concentrations dropped dramatically from 10^6 to 10^1-10^4 m^-3 for corals and Eunice viridis respectively, with minimal eggs or embryos remaining in the lagoon after 16 hours. This rapid transport was linked to local hydrodynamics and high flushing rates, validated by drifter deployments and plankton sampling over five days post-spawning. The study provides empirical support for a biophysical dispersal model, highlighting the influence of physical conditions on reproductive success in tropical coral ecosystems.

Metaxas, A., & Scheibling, R. E. (2016). Rapid egg transport following coral mass spawning at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Bulletin of Marine Science, 92(4), 529–544. https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2016.1019