Histological Analysis of Reproductive Trends of Three Porites Species from Kane'ohe Bay, Hawai'i

Abstract

Gonad development and synchrony among Porites compressa, P. Zobata, and P. evermanni colonies, collected in Kane'ohe Bay during the summer of 1997, were histologically examined and compared. All three species are gonochoric broadcast spawners, releasing gametes predominantly around the time of full moon during the breeding season. Histological sections of fertile polyps confirmed the maturity of gonads and presence of zooxanthellae surrounding the oocytes and moving into the ooplasm of the mature eggs before spawning.