Esforço reprodutivo de Mussismilia braziliensis (Verrill, 1868) (Cnidaria, Scleractinia, Mussidae) no complexo recifal dos Abrolhos, BA, Brasil

Abstract

Mussismilia braziliensis is endemic to Bahia State. lt plays an important role as one of the major reef builders in the area. Ten fragments of colonies were collected at three sites in the Abrolhos Reef Complex, located at different distances from the coast. Reproductive effort was estimated through fecundity (number of eggs per: polyp, cm 2, mesenteries and colony). A new staining method was used to ease identifying and counting eggs in the dissected polyps. The accuracy of the fecundity per gonad obtained through dissection was compared with histological analyses, and showed no significant difference. Mean fecundity per polyp was 338,7 (73,5 s.d.) and the higher number of eggs per polyp was 987. Fecundity per polyp increases as its area, volume, height and number of fertile mesenteries increases. Percentages of fertile mesenteries per polyp were similar among sites. However, the fecundity per mesenteries varied among colonies and sites. Our data showed that the fecundity is variable. The area closest to the coast (Pedra de Leste) presents the highest mean fecundity per polyp and cm 2 (410 [159,29 s.d.] and 233,47 [219,44 s.d.], respectively). This area presents the highest contribution of siliciclastics to the sediment depositing on the reefs and has also the highest cover of Palythoa caribaeorum. We suggested that M braziliensis invest a lot of energy in egg production to increases its chance of survival of the species in more disturb habitats. The study shows data that can be used as a tool if environment threat occur in the area.