Reproductive biology of soft coral Sarcophyton serenei Tixier-Durivault, 1958 in Nha Trang Bay, Khanh Hoa province, Viet Nam
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The study was conducted from August 2023 to July 2024, with monthly sampling on the full moon from mature colonies of the soft coral Sarcophyton serenei , distributed at depths of 5–10 m. Samples were collected from Cut Chim Island (12°15'55.9"N, 109°13'29.3"E) to Hon Chong Island (12°16'58.3"N, 109°12'51.3"E) in Nha Trang Bay to investigate specific reproductive biological characteristics of the species. The parameters analyzed included sex determination, sex ratio, developmental stages of oocytes and spermatocysts, maturation rates, spawning seasonality, and fecundity. The results revealed that S. serenei is a gonochoric species, with a natural sex ratio of 1.3:1 (male to female). The oocytes of S. serenei were white in the immature stage and turned pink or occasionally deep red upon maturation. The mean diameter of mature oocytes was 684.99 ± 28.50 µm, ranging from 631.89 to 735.97 µm. Immature spermatocysts were translucent gray, turning white upon maturation, with an average size of 235.29 ± 8.76 µm, ranging from 182.42 to 295.00 µm. Fecundity showed significant variability, with each polyp containing 14 to 26 eggs. The spawning season of S. serenei in Nha Trang Bay occurred annually in March.
