A team of researchers and professional aquarists from the USA and Europe went to Rincon to collect gametes of Acropora palmata for aquaculture and conservation research as part of the 3rd SECORE workshop (see workshop blog at http://www.secore.org/).
About 20 divers in groups of 2-3 persons observed the Tres Palmas reserve during the period of Aug 2-7. We additionally went to Bajo Gallardo on Aug 5-6. We observed the following:
- Thurs. Aug 2nd, 8.45 - 11.00 p.m. - No spawning observed
- Friday August 3rd, spawning observed in 3 medium to large colonies and gametes collected between 9.05 p.m. - 9.55 p.m.
- Saturday August 4th - slightly more spawning: 6 colonies spawned, gametes collected from 9.15 - 9.52 p.m
- Sunday August 5th - 4 colonies observed spawning 9.20 - 10.00 p.m.
- Monday August 6th - 3 colonies spawned between 9.27 - 9.51 p.m.
- Tuesday August 7th - no spawning observed
We additionally went by boat to Bajo Gallardo offshore the West coast of Puerto Rico on 2 days:
- Sunday August 5th - between 30-50% of the observed colonies (observed area about 50x50m) spawned massively between 9.20 - 9.45 p.m.
- Monday August 6th - no spawning observed in same area
The low spawning percentage in the observed period can probably explained by a split spawn. In comparison, the 2006 spawning was much greater with about >90% colonies spawning at Tres Palmas and slightly less spawning at Bajo Gallardo.
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