Deep-water Scleractinia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa): current knowledge of reproductive processes

Abstract

Little is known of the basic biology and ecology of the numerous species of deep-water scleractinians found in all the world's oceans. Of all the biological processes, reproduction is the most fundamental. Without knowledge of a species' reproduction, we know little about how they survive both the environment that is the deep-sea, and the increasing anthropogenic effects of man's exploration for new fisheries and energy reserves. This review collates current knowledge of the reproductive processes of deep-water scleractinians. Only fifteen deep-water species as yet have had their reproduction described in the literature. Gametogenesis, reproductive seasonality and larval ecology are summarised and compared briefly to shallow-water counterparts. A summary table of all deep-water scleractinian species, for which the reproductive strategy is known, and their sample locations, is presented here. It is hoped this knowledge will be used as a basis for further understanding of how the deep-sea species of this order survive and disperse. These data are also directly applicable to the conservation and management of these deep-sea ecosystems.