REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POLYMORPHIC CARIBBEAN REEF BUILDING CORAL MONTASTREA-ANNULARIS .3. REPRODUCTION IN DAMAGED AND REGENERATING COLONIES

We studied the relation between surface lesion regeneration and reproduction in distinct morphotypes of the coral Montastrea annularis (Ellis & Solander). There were significant differences between the morphotypes (viz. 'Bumpy', 'Massive' and 'Columnar'; Van Veghel & Bak 1993, Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 92: 255-265). The number of eggs per gonad in polyps adjacent to the lesions was reduced in the Massive and Bumpy morphs but not in the Columnar morph. Fecundity (eggs per polyp) and the number of gonads per polyp were reduced in these areas in all morphs. We found a significantly higher regeneration rate for the Bumpy compared with the other 2 morphotypes. Regeneration rates were similar in the Columnar and Massive morphotypes. Regeneration rates in this study were relatively low, suggesting that regeneration is slower during the reproductive season.