MAGNETIC ISLAND, Australia (5 Nov 2003) -- A very sexy time of year is about to begin during the nights following the full moon next week on Magnetic Island. If you haven't noticed the sighing and panting then you can be forgiven. It is all happening beneath the waves amongst the billions of coral polyps which comprise so much of the Great Barrier Reef including the reefs surrounding Magnetic Island. Swimming over the reef at this special time is a truly magical experience - not to be missed!! Coral Spawning this year will take place from Tuesday November 11th to Sunday November 16th. The hard corals on the Great Barrier Reef indulge in a spectacular mass spawning event after the full moon in spring each year. Eggs and sperm are released almost synchronously between 8pm and midnight, and huge clouds of eggs swirl up to the water surface where fertilisation takes place. The corals should start to "set" their eggs at about 8pm - this means the brightly coloured egg bundles should be visible in the polyp mouths in your torchlight. The spawning should start around 8.30pm and continue for 2 hours. Because Magnetic Island has abundant Montipora on the reefs, the second night spawning is usually quite spectacular. Good sites would be Arthur, Nelly, and Geoffrey Bays. | | Acropora spawning on the Great Barrier Reef. Photo: Roger Steene Corals from the Genus Acropora start to spawn on the fourth and fifth nights after the full moon (thurs 13th, fri 14th Nov), as well as species from several other families, and these nights are generally considered the peak of the spawning activity. Spawning starts at between 8.30pm and 9.30pm and continues through until midnight. At least one Island operator, Reef EcoTours will be conducting special snorkelling expeditions at Magnetic Island on these nights to view the annual spawning event. The spawning starts soon after sunset (approx 8-8.30pm) and continues for several hours. SOURCE - Magnetic Times |
