Documenting coral spawning in East Africa: first <i>in situ</i> observations from Zanzibar for three reef-building species

Abstract

Broadcast coral spawning is a vital reproductive event for many reef-building species and is essential to the resilience of coral reef ecosystems. Understanding spawning dynamics is key to assessing the reproductive health and resilience of these ecosystems. While extensively documented in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean, coral spawning remains understudied in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), a region facing rapid environmental change and increasing coral decline. This study presents the first in situ coral spawning records from Zanzibar for three Scleractinian species: <i>Galaxea astreata, Favites pentagona, and Platygyra daedalea</i>. Observations were made during monthly nighttime monitoring dives from November 2024 to February 2025, timed with lunar and solar cycles linked to peak spawning in other regions. Results showed evidence of species-specific spawning timing: an individual <i>G. astreata</i> spawned on the second night after the full moon in November and December; an <i>F. pentagona</i> on the fourth night in November; and several <i>P. daedalea</i> on the fourth night in December and January. Spawning behaviour, including gamete setting, release windows, and split spawning, also varied by species and individual. These findings offer the first information on reproductive patterns for these species in the WIO and underscore the importance of local spawning studies to support regional coral conservation and restoration.