CORAL SPAWNING CRUISE 2006

Every year, 7-10 days after the full moon in August, the reef-building corals of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary put on a fantastic spawning display. In ways that we still don't understand, each coral species times its gamete release for maximum benefit by avoiding the simultaneous spawning of other species. And, each year, sanctuary scientists and researchers from other facilities are there to observe this phenomenon in an effort to decipher even more pieces of the puzzle.

2006 SPAWNING CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

A Christmas tree worm protruding from a spawning brain coral colony. Photo: Schmahl/FGBNMS

Thanks to the nature gods, the corals spawned spectacularly on both the seventh and eighth night after the full moon (the eighth being the “bigger” of the two nights).  The star and brain corals released their gametes on cue.

A christmas tree worm spawns from its location atop a brain coral colony. Click on the image to see video footage. Photo: Schmahl/FGBNMS Video: Hickerson/FGBNMS

 

 

Brittle stars and christmas tree worms also spawned as expected, although there were a lot more Christmas tree worms “going off” than we’ve previously seen, and a lot fewer brittle stars.

 

A giant barrel sponge spawning at West Flower Garden Bank. Photo: Hickerson/FGBNMS

 

 

The big surprise was the spawning of the giant barrel sponges, Xestospongia muta.  We’ve had one report of this species spawning in the sanctuary and seen a photo or two, but never witnessed the event for ourselves. 

The spawn from giant barrel sponges settled onto the reef like drifting snow. Photo: Schmahl/FGBNMS

 

 

On the morning of the 6^th night after the full moon, around 9:00 am, we were at the West Flower Garden Bank and the "snow storm" began. There was no current, so the eggs were forming a ring of white all around the sponges.

 

A third moment of discovery came when Doug Weaver and Emma Hickerson spotted a 5 foot long goliath grouper. We were able to obtain the first ever photographic evidence of this species in the sanctuary. This is an Endangered Species that warrants special protection and attention.

Click here to download a full 2006 Spawning Cruise Report with photographs. (508kb pdf)