title: Fused embryos and pre-metamorphic conjoined larvae in a broadcast spawning reef coral.
abstract: Fusion of embryos or larvae prior to metamorphosis is rarely known to date in colonial marine organisms. Here, we document for the first time that the embryos of the broadcast spawning coral Platygyra daedalea could fuse during blastulation and further develop into conjoined larvae, and the settlement of conjoined larvae immediately resulted in inborn juvenile colonies. Fusion of embryos might be an adaptive strategy to form pre-metamorphic chimeric larvae and larger recruits, thereby promoting early survival. However, future studies are needed to explore whether and to what extent fusion of coral embryos occurs in the field, and fully evaluate its implications.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China ; Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572000, China ; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China ; Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572000, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
keywords: Platygyra daedalea; conjoined larvae; fusion; inborn colonies; spawn slicks