Mote makes major coral advancement

In a remarkable advancement for coral conservation, Mote Marine Laboratory has successfully achieved the spawning of Eusmilia fastigiata, commonly known as smooth flower coral, with parent colonies settled just 22 months prior under managed care.
The original corals were received in March 2022 as part of the Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project (FRTRP), an Association of Zoos and Aquariums member-driven coral rescue and conservation network focused on the rescue, housing, and future propagation of Florida corals affected by stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD). The corals received from the FRTRP spawned, and Mote’s International Coral Gene Bank successfully settled them. Over the last two years, the Gene Bank has raised the coral and facilitated the spawning of a second generation. The selective nature for the settlement of this species and the specific conditions required to promote sexual reproduction make the successful production of this second generation under managed care conditions a notable challenge. The feat underscores the species’ ability to be sexually propagated within a controlled environment.
The Gene Bank, located at the Mote Aquaculture Research Park (MAP) in eastern Sarasota County, serves Mote’s mission to protect and restore coral reefs. It acts as a sanctuary for corals from Florida’s Coral Reef and other Caribbean regions, with future plans for expansion into the Indo-Pacific. The Gene Bank houses thousands of coral genotypes (genetic varieties) of at least 26 species stored in triplicate, offering a critical safeguard against the loss of coral genetic diversity.
Smooth flower coral is also highly susceptible to SCTLD, making Mote’s success in breeding it a significant win for coral conservation efforts. To date, this species has not been heavily utilized for active coral restoration efforts, but the ability to reproduce within a relatively young age may change this paradigm.
Smooth flower coral, however, remains notoriously difficult to settle. To encourage settlement, conditioned plugs are u