Evaluating the role of moonlight-darkness dynamics as proximate spawning cues in an Acropora coral

• DOI: 10.1007/s00338-025-02618-9
• Publication Date: 2025-01-28T16:16:23Z
• Authors: Rubén de la Torre...; Elizabeth Beauchamp; Daisy Buzzoni; Jamie Craggs; Holly East; Alasdair Edwards; Yimnang Golbuu; Adriana Humanes; Liam Lachs; Helios Martínez; Aileen Mill; Eveline van der S...; Alex Ward; James R. Guest
• Keywords: Moonlight; Acropora; Darkness

For sessile broadcast spawning marine invertebrates, such as corals, successful sexual reproduction depends on conspecifics synchronously. The precise monthly, lunar, and diel timing the extent of synchrony, i.e., proportion population reproducing at same time, are likely to play a key role in coral recovery, persistence, adaptation. Despite its importance, mechanisms by which different environmental factors trigger corals spawn specific dates within lunar cycle remain poorly understood. Periods darkness post-sunset around full moon month have been shown induce merulinid whereas for Acropora, moonlight is considered main determinant driver night spawning. Here, we conducted two manipulative field experiments Palau using common table Acropora aff. hyacinthus disentangle proximate cues. Coral fragments were assigned three treatments providing conditions, versus control procedural exposed natural conditions. In contrast previous studies found that can synchronously absence during nights leading Corals least consecutive advanced their compared controls. This finding indicates periods act an inducer well suggesting this mechanism may be more widespread than previously thought. online version contains supplementary material available 10.1007/s00338-025-02618-9.