Reproductive Synchrony inAcroporaAssemblages on Reefs of New Caledonia

Research on the Lagoons of New Caledonia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the world's second largest barrier reef, reveals that Acropora coral reproduction is highly synchronized across eight sites spanning 200 km. The study found that 80% of 1,055 Acropora colonies contained mature oocytes, with 34 out of 37 species exhibiting at least one mature colony. This suggests a multispecies spawning event following the full moon in November, aligning with the mass spawning period on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The high synchrony implies that even brief disruptions to fertilization and early development, such as liquid waste discharge from ore processing, could significantly impact these globally valued reefs.

Baird, A. H., Kospartov, M. C., & Purcell, S. (2010). Reproductive Synchrony inAcroporaAssemblages on Reefs of New Caledonia. Pacific Science, 64(3), 405–412. https://doi.org/10.2984/64.3.405