Republic of the Philippines

PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY

Camarines Sur

Caramoan Campus
MODULE VI

CORAL ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION AND SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Name of student: ________________________________ Week Number: 8-9

Course Code: MB9 Name of Faculty: Diana Rose R. Pesimo
Course Title: CORAL REEFS

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I. Objectives

At the end of this module, students are expected to:

• Discuss and differentiate between the two types of Coral Reproduction
• Explain the concept of Asexual and Sexual Reproduction in Corals
• Determine the parts responsible for the reproduction

II. Lesson

Coral Reproduction

Reproduction is the process of creating offspring. Organisms must reproduce in order for their
species to survive. How do corals reproduce? Remember that corals are sessile so they have to be
creative when it comes to reproduction. In this unit, we will learn about different strategies that coral use to
reproduce.

Corals reproduce by one of two methods:

1. Sexual reproduction
2. Asexual reproduction

SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Sexual reproduction is the production of a new organism from two others of the opposite sex. This
requires the production of sperm and eggs, which are often referred to as gametes. Gametes are mature
sexual reproductive cells. The majority of coral species are hermaphroditic, meaning that they produce both
sperm and eggs. The rest consist of separate sexes (male or female) meaning that they produce either eggs
or sperm. When sperm and egg combine to form a new organism, it is called fertilization.

Four modes of sexual reproduction in corals

The four modes of reproduction vary by species of coral and are (1) hermaphrodism & spawning
reproduction (2) gonochorism & spawning reproduction; (3) hermaphrodism & brooding reproduction; and (4)
gonochorism & brooding reproduction. Here are more details:

• Gonochorism is a mode of reproduction where an individual carries a single-sex (male or

female) throughout his or her life.
• Hermaphrodism reproduction is the opposite of gonochorism because individuals possess
both sexes or can change of sex during their lifetime.

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 Republic of the Philippines
PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY
Camarines Sur

• Corals also reproduce by spawning, they release gametes (sperm and ova) into the water
where fertilization and larval development will take place.
• Finally, for brooding species, fertilization between male and female gametes is internal, and
they will release a planula larva into the water (called planulation) once its internal
development is completed.

Life cycle of hard-skeleton corals (Scleractinian corals)

Hard corals are reef-building corals. The life cycle of hard corals is called biphasic [1]: an immobile
phase where the polyp is attached to its coral and a phase where the planula larva is mobile in the
water

Asexual reproduction by budding

Each coral is made up of a multitude of polyps (each is about 1 to 3 mm in diameter) all genetically
identical. Each polyp self-produces asexually (without fertilization) by budding. An outgrowth of the
“parent” polyp, called a sexual propagule, develops and gives birth to a new polyp, a clone that will be
genetically identical to the parent polyp.

Once the coral reaches a certain age and size, the cycle of sexual reproduction begins and takes
place 1 to 2 times a year in order to conquer new reefs.

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 Republic of the Philippines
PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY
Camarines Sur

Multi-species coral surface slick at Lizard Island at 07:00, the day after spawning. (b).
Photomicrography of a surface slick sample (a), showing various coral embryos and larvae. (Source:
Randall et al. 2020)

For coral species that reproduce by spawning, the release of gametes is often synchronized per
minute, between individuals. This gamete release takes place only one to two nights in the year and is
correlated with the lunar cycle. Indeed, the photoreceptors of the coral, depending on the intensity of the
moonlight they are detecting, will induce or not the release of gametes. Many other factors come into play
during this synchronization, but their implication still raises many questions from scientists. Some brooding
species are known to use similar processes to coordinate planula larva release.
Sexual reproduction
Like all animals, corals reproduce sexually. There are male polyps that produce male gametes
(sperm) and female polyps that produce female gametes (eggs). Corals that live in a colony can have both
males and females in the same colony, so the coral is said to be hermaphrodite.

The fertilization that takes place during the meeting between the male and female reproductive
cell can be of two natures: the fertilization is external, and the spermatozoids go to the meeting of the
ovules in full water, after being ejected by the polyps. Fertilization is internal, the male polyps emit
spermatozoa which are received in a female polyp incubator.

During fertilization, an egg cell is formed which gives birth to a” planula larva” that wanders for
some time in the ocean currents before dropping to the bottom. The larva then transforms into a polyp
which is fixed on a rock and becomes a new colony. Sexual reproduction allows the propagation of corals
in new spaces while ensuring a genetic mixing.

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 Republic of the Philippines
PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY
Camarines Sur

III. ACTIVITY
Create a diagram showing the process of asexual reproduction and explain each step.

IV. ASSESSMENT

1. What are the two types of the reproduction process of Corals?

2. Give the difference between the two types of the reproduction process of corals.
3. What are the different types of sexual reproduction.

V. REFERENCE

Coral Reef Alliance. (2022). Coral Reefs 101: Types of Coral Reefs Formation. Retrieved from
https://coral.org/en/coral-reefs-101/types-of-coral-reef-formations/

Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. (2022). Coral Reef Ecology Curriculum. Retrieved
from https://www.livingoceansfoundation.org/education/portal/for-teachers/course-
resources/

McGraw-Hill Education. (2014). AccessScience. Retrieved from

https://www.accessscience.com/media/EST/media/145900PV0001.pdf

https://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/corals/4a.html

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2021, July 15). EPA. Retrieved from
https://www.epa.gov/coral-reefs/basic-information-about-coral-reefs

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