Table 2 Estimated reproductive output (egg-sperm bundles).

From: Contrasting reproductive strategies of two Hawaiian Montipora corals

Species

Avg frag surface area (cm2) ± SD

Approx. bundles/frag, light spawn

Approx. bundles/frag, heavy spawn

Approx. bundles/frag, typical spawn

Est. bundles/colony 1 m2 (10,000 cm2) surface area

M. flabellata

250  ± 70

75

400

–

Light spawn: 3000

Heavy spawn: 16,000

M. capitata

250 ± 70

–

–

8000

Typical spawn: 320,000

  1. A comparison of the number of egg-sperm bundles spawned on a given night was estimated for a 1 m2 colony of M. flabellata and M. capitata. The mean number of bundles spawned per small colony fragment per night for both years was grouped into light and heavy spawning for M. flabellata and estimated for a typical M. capitata spawn. Given the sporadic spawning behavior of M. flabellata, similarly sized M. capitata colonies typically produce egg-sperm bundles an order of magnitude greater, or more, than M. flabellata on a given night of spawning.
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