Reproduction Pattern and Multispecific Spawning of Acropora spp.in Spermonde Islands Reef, Indonesia

It has been thought that Indonesian marine tropical waters have less environmental variability, so that spawning period of coral extend for several months and occured during different lunar phases. Therefore the timing of coral spawning in a year cannot be predicted especially for monthly, daily and hourly scales. This study was aimed to investigate the reproductive pattern, and the environmental cues of Acropora spp. in Spermonde Islands reefs of Makassar. Spawning corals have been determined the presence of mature gonad and spawning event in their habitats (in situ) and in the laboratory (ex situ) of Marine Station of Barrang Lompo Island, Hasanuddin University. Here we showed that seven species of Acropora spp. spawned in February and March of rainy season for consecutive three years (2010, 2011, 2012). The multispecific broadcasting spawning took place in lunar period (0–2 AFM) at 06:10–07:00 pm). The spawning time occured in high tide and the temperature was 30,3oC. This study will be useful for development of coral reproduction research and technique in both field and laboratory as an effort to restore coral reef and enhance coral population in particular.