Corals reproduce both sexually and asexually. Heliofungia corals can reproduce sexually or asexually. Sexual reproduction. Corals reproduce in two different ways - sexually and asexually. However Reef Coral has different parts to budding unlike the Porifera phylum. This distinguishment tends to be by species, but sometimes is by geographical region. Mass coral spawning. It can be a useful addition to sexual techniques, for example for coral species that naturally reproduce asexually and sexually (staghorn corals, some Acropora spp.). Within a fortnight, the larvae will settle on to hard substrate. Corals also reproduce sexually by “spawning”. One way is sexually through spawning, when the corals release eggs and sperm into the water (often at the same time due to some sort of trigger).External sexual reproduction occurs when colonies of coral release huge numbers of eggs and sperm that are often glued into bundles (one bundle per polyp) that float towards the surface. These corals are also known to reproduce sexually, with broadcasting of gametes from separately-sexed (gonochoric) parent colonies. This is asexual reproduction and is called “fragmentation”. Like many marine invertebrates, corals have a two-phase life cycle, a planktonic larval phase and a sessile adult phase, where most species live attached to the reef. Most Reef Corals reproduce sexually, however they can reproduce asexually and become hermaphrodites. Internally fertilized eggs are brooded by the polyp for days to weeks. Figure 6. Sexual Reproduction. Corals are sedentery animals, so how do they reproduce? Sexual reproduction can happen in two ways broadcast spawning and brooding. Many corals are able to spread across reef space by asexual means, such as fragmentation, but this results in clones of the same colony and does not increase the diversity or gene pool of the reef. Using sexual coral reproduction for reef restoration ('sexual coral restoration') requires expertise and initial research to understand reproduction of a specific species. On a healthy reef, when corals break, the broken pieces can lodge in cracks and crevices and grow into new colonies that are clones of the parent. At least one Goniopora species is known to be a brooder. Reefs restored with corals created by sexual reproduction are likely to be more resilient, though managing this process hasn’t been easy for scientists to do. This mass reproduction only happens once a year. Budding occurs commonly in some invertebrate animals such as corals and hydras. One of the most spectacular events to occur on the Great Barrier Reef is the annual synchronised spawning of corals. Externally fertilized eggs develop while adrift. During sexual reproduction, eggs and sperm are released into the water, where the fertilised egg develops into larvae. 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