Abstract:
In this study, the lunar periodicity of larval release and factors influencing settlement, survival rate, and growth rate of Pocillopora damicornis larvae were investigated at Ko Samae San, Chonburi Province. The results of the releasing period between January 2007 December 2007 showed that P. damicornis released planulae monthly during the day and night. However, most were released at night times (0600 0800 p.m.) during the new moon to 13 days after the new moon. The highest numbers of larvae released were 2 to 5 days after the new moon. The numbers of larvae released were between 214.1 ± 24.4 larvae per colony per day, and the releasing rates were 0.2 ± 0.05 larvae per polyp. 24 hours after released, 60 % of the larvae settled. After settling on a substrate, larva depressed its body shape in 0.5 hour, and the polyp, tentacle, and hard structure were observed in 40 hours. The first polyp was approximately 1 mm in length. After 4-10 days, a juvenile coral (primary polyp) started budding and expanding its size. At the 6th month, the colony shape started uplifting. In addition, the results from the substrate preference experiments showed that larvae preferred settling on the tile substrate covered with coralline more than other types of substrates (p<0.01). Furthermore, larvae preferred settling under the light condition (P=0.01). However, the position of settlement was not related to the light direction. Moreover, there was no significant difference on the larval settlement rate between different temperatures. For the survival rates in the rearing system at 6 months old, the results showed that corals in the rearing system had higher survival rates (18.4 ± 8.76%) than ones in the sea. However, corals in the sea had larger size (7.0 ± 0.61 mm) in length compared to ones in the sea.