Spawning Patterns of Acropora Species in the Mombasa Lagoon in Kenya

Seventeen species of Acropora were studied in the Mombasa lagoon in Kenya from 2004-2005 to determine the timing and frequency of spawning, and the level of synchrony within and among different species. Spawning in this genus occurred over an extended 7 month period from October-April, with the majority of marked colonies (77%) releasing gametes between January-March in the northeast monsoon. Individual species were capable of splitspawning over 2-4 lunar months, and the length of spawning varied between species. Spawning occurred over a range of lunar phases, but predominantly in the 2 weeks following the full moon. It is evident that Acropora species in Kenya display a greater degree of spawning asynchrony compared to similar assemblages in other parts of the world. Published