{"id":13440,"date":"2019-04-25T16:26:35","date_gmt":"2019-04-25T15:26:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/?p=13440"},"modified":"2021-06-18T15:18:43","modified_gmt":"2021-06-18T14:18:43","slug":"witnessing-the-unknown-coral-spawning-in-timor-leste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/witnessing-the-unknown-coral-spawning-in-timor-leste\/","title":{"rendered":"Witnessing the unknown: coral spawning in Timor-Leste"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite studying and working in the field of tropical coral reef ecology for nearly 7 years, I had never seen a coral spawning event in my life\u2026 Until today! <\/span><\/p>\n

Coral spawning is one of the planet\u2019s most prolific and mysterious methods of reproduction. A precise recipe of environmental factors is needed to trigger synchronised spawning events, and this recipe is still not entirely known. What we do know is that timing is everything. Coral spawning often corresponds with the lunar cycle, with the full moon seemingly acting as a visual stimulus to the choreographed sex.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conscious of the rarity of such events, I was completely astonished to witness a large colony of Goniopora coral spawning during a breezy Saturday morning dive with Blue Ventures\u2019 <\/span>marine conservation volunteers<\/span><\/a>. That\u2019s Timor-Leste for you though! Full of the most magical marine surprises.<\/span><\/p>\n

I found myself caught up in a primal thrill! And yes, those are my excited shrieks of joy in the video below, taken by volunteer Caspar de Roij. <\/span><\/p>\n