Larval release rate of the scleractinian cold-water coral Caryophyllia huinayensis

To describe the metamorphosis and post-larval development stages of the scleractinian cold-water coral Caryophyllia huinayensis adults were collected at Comau Fjord, Chile, and transferred to the experimental aquarium facility of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research. Upon arrival, polyps were glued to plastic screws and placed in individual plastic cylinders fixed on horizontal plastic holders. The plastic cylinder had three side windows covered with gauze (100 µm) to allow water exchange. A closed bottom and an open top that rose 1 cm above the water surface ensured retention of planula larvae released by the adults. The latter were collected with a plastic pipette (3 ml) and counted twice a day from Monday to Friday over a period of three years to calculate the production rate of each parent polyp.