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Effect of suspended sediment on fertilization success in the scleractinian coral Pectinia lactuca

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2012

Paul L.A. Erftemeijer ,
Mary Hagedorn ,
Michael Laterveer ,
Jamie Craggs  and
James R. Guest
Paul L.A. Erftemeijer
Affiliation:
Deltares (formerly Delft Hydraulics), PO Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands
Mary Hagedorn
Affiliation:
Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Kaneohe, HI 96744
Michael Laterveer
Affiliation:
Rotterdam Zoo, PO Box 532, 3000 AM Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Jamie Craggs
Affiliation:
Horniman Museum & Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3PQUnited Kingdom
James R. Guest*
Affiliation:
Marine Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore117543
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J.R. Guest, Marine Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore117543 email: James.Guest@nus.edu.sg
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Abstract

The effect of increased levels of suspended sediment on fertilization success in the scleractinian coral Pectinia lactuca was investigated in a laboratory experiment following a mass coral spawning event on reefs off Singapore. Egg–sperm bundles were collected from tank-spawned coral colonies collected from the field several days prior to the anticipated mass spawning. Eggs and sperm from each colony were separated and distributed systematically across replicated treatments (N = 9) with three concentrations of fine suspended sediment. Spawning and embryo development in Pectinia lactuca followed a pattern similar to other scleractinian coral species. There was a significant effect of increased suspended sediment concentration on fertilization success (P < 0.05). Both high- (169 mg l−1) and medium- (43 mg l−1) suspended sediment treatments decreased fertilization success compared to controls. These results imply that increased turbidity levels (whether chronic, such as in the waters around Singapore, or short-term, caused by a dredging operation)—when coinciding with the coral spawning season—may affect the reproductive success of corals and compromise coral recruitment and recovery of degraded reefs.

Keywords

Pectinia lactucacoral spawningfertilization successturbiditysuspended sedimentdredging
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 92 , Issue 4: Coral Reefs, the Aquarium Trade and the Maritime Industry , June 2012 , pp. 741 - 745
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2012

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