Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/04/29
By: Wu Hsin-yun and Chi Jo-yao

Photo contributed by Kuo Chao-yang

Taipei, April 29 (CNA) The phenomenon of coral reefs simultaneously releasing their tiny eggs and sperm into the ocean, known as coral spawning, has been recorded off Taiwan’s eastern coast for the first time, according to a team from Academia Sinica.

The coral spawning, which creates the appearance of an underwater blizzard with billions of colorful flakes, takes place once a year on cues from the lunar cycle and water temperature and often coincides with the birthday of the sea goddess Matsu in the spring.

The Biodiversity Research Center (BRC) of Academia Sinica has spent most of its time and resources in the past recording the spectacle in Kenting in southern Taiwan and in the Penghu Islands off the coast of western Taiwan during the coral’s breeding season.

This year, however, center researchers went to Taitung County in southeastern Taiwan on April 25 and 26 and discovered coral spawning off the coast of the port town of Jihui (基翬) for the first time.    [FULL  STORY]