Coral Spawning and Larval Aggregation (Biotic Group)

Component: Biotic

Unique Identifier: 444

Biotic Setting	Planktonic Biota
Biotic Group	Zooplankton
Biotic Subclass	Coral Meroplankton
Biotic Group	Coral Spawning and Larval Aggregation
Biotic Community	Acroporid Spawning Aggregation Montastraea Spawning Aggregation

Description

Definition

Water parcels in which coral gametes and larvae are aggregated during and after simultaneous spawning (often in astronomical numbers). In events that involve synchronous spawning of multiple species of corals, the concept of species-specific or group-specific biotic communities (below) may not apply, and the feature is identified at the biotic group level.