Newswise — The one-night-a-year spawning of massive star corals off of the Key Largo, Florida coast next week will draw the close scrutiny of University at Buffalo scientists who will collect samples from millions of teeming egg-sperm bundles.

Samples gathered by the scientists will be used to learn what genomic factors are critical for replenishment of coral reefs that have been significantly damaged by environmental strains. The spawning of the star corals (montastraea species) generates millions of infant corals.

The spawning is expected to take place Sat., Sept. 5. The scientists are available to discuss their research that evening or in the days before or after the spawning.

Replenishing reefs depends on many factors, most importantly the establishment of symbiosis between corals and the algae that live in, and nourish, them, according to University at Buffalo scientist Mary Alice Coffroth, Ph.D.

"Little is known about the molecular basis for establishing and maintaining common biological relationships that play a key role in the formation of coral reefs," says Coffroth.

Coffroth will be collecting the egg-sperm bundles, fertilizing them in a University at Buffalo lab and rearing them as developing embryos.

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