Sexual reproduction of Anthoplexaura dimorpha (Gorgonacea: Octocorallia) from Munseom, Jejudo Islands, Korea

Abstract

The gorgonian coral Anthoplexaura dimorpha Kûkenthal, 1908 (Gorgonacea: Octocorallia) is abundant in Jejudo Islands, Korea. To investigate the sexual reproduction of this species, we surveyed the morphology and cycle of gametogenesis. 5-6cm long fragments from 3-7 randomly chosen colonies were collected monthly at a depth of 12-24m in the water surrounding Munseom from August 2003 to August 2005. This species was gonochoric with sex ratio of 1.86:1 (female to male), and had one annual reproductive cycle affected by elevation of seawater temperature. Oogenesis was longer than spermatogenesis as 12 months in female and 6 months in male. The planulae were not observed from the field survey and histological sections, which suggested broadcast spawning for the reproductive mode in this species. The possible spawning events may occur after the seawater temperature attain to the annual peak in September.