From molecules to moonbeams: spawning synchrony in coral reef organisms

Abstract

A mini-symposium at the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium highlighted significant advances towards understanding the factors controlling reproductive timing and spawning synchrony in coral reef organisms. Studies of the phenology of reef organisms are finally moving beyond the purely descriptive and researchers are starting to explore the molecular mechanisms underpinning spawning synchrony. An increasing geographical focus of research, in particular much novel work from the centre of coral reef diversity, is enabling rigorous examination of latitudinal gradients of spawning synchrony and the role of environmental factors such as sea temperature and insolation in regulating spawning timing.