Gametogenesis, Embryogenesis, and Fertilization Ecology of Platygyra acuta in Marginal Nonreefal Coral Communities in Hong Kong

Figure 4

SEM micrograph of embryonic developmental stages of the broadcast-spawning scleractinian coral, Platygyra acuta. (a) Egg, where fertilization may or may not have occurred. (b) First cleavage. (c) 4-cell stage. (d) 8-cell stage. (e) 16-cell stage. (f) 32-cell stage. (g)-(h) Blastomeres continued to divide into highly irregular shapes. (i)-(j) Cushion stage. (k) Smoothening of embryo surface. (l)-(m) Embryos expanded and became spherical shaped. (o) Abnormal embryo. (n)-(p) Blastula stage. (q)-(r) Elongated stage. Scale bar = 200 μm.

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