Scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University have discovered an eccentric reproductive method for the Hosoeda Hanayasai coral found on coral reefs around Okinawa.Asexual reproduction, which is different from the usual method, has been observed at experimental facilities in Australia and Taiwan, but this is the first time it has been observed in Okinawa.
A small colony of Pocillopora damicula was found in an outdoor aquarium managed by the university.All previously grown coral colonies are reproduced by sexual reproduction.
The emergence of this new colony surprised researchers as it showed no signs of spawning.
Corals reproduce mainly by sexual reproduction, but some species also reproduce asexually.Hosoeda Hanayasai coral also reproduces both sexually and asexually, but in this case, when there were no signs of sexual reproduction, it was considered to be asexual.The most common method of asexual reproduction is debris dispersion in which small debris from a parent coral colony grows into another independent colony, but the new colony is due to debris dispersal because no broken coral fragments could be identified. The researchers thought it wasn't.
As another lesser-known method of asexual reproduction, only a few species of coral are known to release planula larvae with a spore-like structure that can form colonies. There is.It is speculated that the new colony of Pocillopora damicosa is also due to the release of planula larvae or the escape of the polyp itself due to a phenomenon called "polyp bailout" and the start of inhabiting elsewhere.It is the first time that Hosoeda Hanayasai coral has been confirmed to be capable of such asexual reproduction around Okinawa.
It is expected that this discovery will open up the possibility of new strategies that will help conserve coral reefs in the future.
Paper information:[Peer J] First evidence of asexual recruitment of Pocillopora acuta in Okinawa Island using genotypic identification
