213
7 Aggregation Spawning: Biological Aspects of the Early Life History
Indian Ocean with up to over 400 individuals per 20 m
2 area and populations falling
to near normal levels (only a few percent of those originally seen) within a few
weeks, either through predation on or migration of juvenile groupers. While not
verifi ed as an aggregation spawner, there is some evidence this grouper may indeed
use that reproductive strategy (Chap. 5 ).
For wrasses large recruitment pulses are known in bluehead wrasse (Masterson
et al. 1997 ) and California sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher (Cowen 1985 ) .
Masterson et al. ( 1997 ) reported a large synchronous pulse of recruitment of bluehead wrasse to sites on 3 US Virgin Islands in 1 year, but not in 2 other years, while
the spawning seasonality of the species varies across its range.
In the tetradontiform fi shes (triggerfi shes and pufferfi shes-Monacanthidae) there
are several records of massive and intermittent recruitment, although it is unknown
if many species in this group have aggregation spawning. Robertson ( 1988 ) reported
large-scale recruitment of queen triggerfi sh, Balistes vetula , in Caribbean Panama.
Stimson ( 2005 ) documented occurrence of large episodic recruitments of the fantail
fi lefi sh, Pervagor spilosoma , to reefs in Hawaii, but its spawning mode is not known.
Rabbitfi shes are also known to have aggregation spawning and massive recruitments. In Guam, Kami and Ikehara ( 1978 ) reported scribbled rabbitfi sh, Siganus
spinus , and forktail rabbitfi sh, S. argenteus , juveniles to appear on the reef fl ats a
few days before or after the last quarter moon in April and May. There are reports
of “ balls” of siganid juveniles occurring in deep reef waters. Aggregation spawning
and large recruitment pulses are known for rabbitfi sh in Palau (Chap. 12.22 ).
Fishes in some other families, such as Hawaiian bigeye, Priacanthus meeki , and
Moorish idol, Zanclus cornutus , have had bursts of abundance on Hawaiian reefs
with subsequent disappearance or dropping back to normal levels (Stimson 2005 ) .
It seems likely the Moorish idol may well have aggregation spawning in at least
some areas (Palau, PLC personal observation), but nothing is known about bigeye
spawning (Chap. 12.19 ).
7.6.4 Is Mass Spawning of Marine Invertebrates Comparable
to Reef Fishes and Does It Provide Any Insight
into Reef Fish Pelagic Life?
Many marine invertebrates have a dispersive larval stage, and some spawn at
discrete times and places en masse (Babcock et al. 1992 ) . While a review of this
subject is beyond the scope of this chapter, a few comparisons are useful, particularly when invertebrate spawning has been compared to fi sh aggregation spawning
(see also Chap. 3 ).
The mass spawning of stony corals (Scleractinia) has been documented from
many locations throughout the tropics (Baird et al. 2009 ) , and is often limited in
seasonal and lunar periods. Van Woesik ( 2010 ) , reporting that corals spawn at times
of calm wind conditions in different areas, suggested that “spawning during regionally calm periods may also be applicable to other marine organisms, such as fi shes”
7 Aggregation Spawning: Biological Aspects of the Early Life History
Indian Ocean with up to over 400 individuals per 20 m
2 area and populations falling
to near normal levels (only a few percent of those originally seen) within a few
weeks, either through predation on or migration of juvenile groupers. While not
verifi ed as an aggregation spawner, there is some evidence this grouper may indeed
use that reproductive strategy (Chap. 5 ).
For wrasses large recruitment pulses are known in bluehead wrasse (Masterson
et al. 1997 ) and California sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher (Cowen 1985 ) .
Masterson et al. ( 1997 ) reported a large synchronous pulse of recruitment of bluehead wrasse to sites on 3 US Virgin Islands in 1 year, but not in 2 other years, while
the spawning seasonality of the species varies across its range.
In the tetradontiform fi shes (triggerfi shes and pufferfi shes-Monacanthidae) there
are several records of massive and intermittent recruitment, although it is unknown
if many species in this group have aggregation spawning. Robertson ( 1988 ) reported
large-scale recruitment of queen triggerfi sh, Balistes vetula , in Caribbean Panama.
Stimson ( 2005 ) documented occurrence of large episodic recruitments of the fantail
fi lefi sh, Pervagor spilosoma , to reefs in Hawaii, but its spawning mode is not known.
Rabbitfi shes are also known to have aggregation spawning and massive recruitments. In Guam, Kami and Ikehara ( 1978 ) reported scribbled rabbitfi sh, Siganus
spinus , and forktail rabbitfi sh, S. argenteus , juveniles to appear on the reef fl ats a
few days before or after the last quarter moon in April and May. There are reports
of “ balls” of siganid juveniles occurring in deep reef waters. Aggregation spawning
and large recruitment pulses are known for rabbitfi sh in Palau (Chap. 12.22 ).
Fishes in some other families, such as Hawaiian bigeye, Priacanthus meeki , and
Moorish idol, Zanclus cornutus , have had bursts of abundance on Hawaiian reefs
with subsequent disappearance or dropping back to normal levels (Stimson 2005 ) .
It seems likely the Moorish idol may well have aggregation spawning in at least
some areas (Palau, PLC personal observation), but nothing is known about bigeye
spawning (Chap. 12.19 ).
7.6.4 Is Mass Spawning of Marine Invertebrates Comparable
to Reef Fishes and Does It Provide Any Insight
into Reef Fish Pelagic Life?
Many marine invertebrates have a dispersive larval stage, and some spawn at
discrete times and places en masse (Babcock et al. 1992 ) . While a review of this
subject is beyond the scope of this chapter, a few comparisons are useful, particularly when invertebrate spawning has been compared to fi sh aggregation spawning
(see also Chap. 3 ).
The mass spawning of stony corals (Scleractinia) has been documented from
many locations throughout the tropics (Baird et al. 2009 ) , and is often limited in
seasonal and lunar periods. Van Woesik ( 2010 ) , reporting that corals spawn at times
of calm wind conditions in different areas, suggested that “spawning during regionally calm periods may also be applicable to other marine organisms, such as fi shes”