Cycloprodigiosin: A multispecies settlement cue for scleractinian coral larvae

Abstract The survival of coral reefs depends on the rejuvenation of coral populations with the potential to adapt and survive a changing climate. Assisted sexual reproduction has become an important tool in reef management. One bottleneck is the efficient and manageable induction of coral larval set...

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Main Authors: Laura J. Fiegel, Samuel Nietzer, David Brefeld, Robbert C. Geertsma, Ronald Osinga, Peter J. Schupp, Matthias Y. Kellermann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12409-5
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author Laura J. Fiegel
Samuel Nietzer
David Brefeld
Robbert C. Geertsma
Ronald Osinga
Peter J. Schupp
Matthias Y. Kellermann
author_facet Laura J. Fiegel
Samuel Nietzer
David Brefeld
Robbert C. Geertsma
Ronald Osinga
Peter J. Schupp
Matthias Y. Kellermann
author_sort Laura J. Fiegel
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The survival of coral reefs depends on the rejuvenation of coral populations with the potential to adapt and survive a changing climate. Assisted sexual reproduction has become an important tool in reef management. One bottleneck is the efficient and manageable induction of coral larval settlement. Here we report cycloprodigiosin (CYPRO) as a multispecies cue which induces complete larval settlement at rates between 40 and 93% in four brooding and five broadcast spawning species. All nine tested species showed similar uptake and conversion of CYPRO (photolytic degradation), which together initiate and complete the transition to successful settlement. Due to its chemical stability and low water solubility, the component can be easily stored, transported and applied on clean substrates, which might increase the chances of survival of the settled recruits. Thus, this broad settlement cue has the chance to advance reef restoration projects.
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spelling doaj-art-739fbb7bd21d412fbacc9b3a4e3202d22025-08-20T03:04:31ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-12409-5Cycloprodigiosin: A multispecies settlement cue for scleractinian coral larvaeLaura J. Fiegel0Samuel Nietzer1David Brefeld2Robbert C. Geertsma3Ronald Osinga4Peter J. Schupp5Matthias Y. Kellermann6Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University OldenburgInstitute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University OldenburgInstitute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University OldenburgMarine Animal Ecology, Wageningen University & ResearchMarine Animal Ecology, Wageningen University & ResearchInstitute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University OldenburgInstitute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University OldenburgAbstract The survival of coral reefs depends on the rejuvenation of coral populations with the potential to adapt and survive a changing climate. Assisted sexual reproduction has become an important tool in reef management. One bottleneck is the efficient and manageable induction of coral larval settlement. Here we report cycloprodigiosin (CYPRO) as a multispecies cue which induces complete larval settlement at rates between 40 and 93% in four brooding and five broadcast spawning species. All nine tested species showed similar uptake and conversion of CYPRO (photolytic degradation), which together initiate and complete the transition to successful settlement. Due to its chemical stability and low water solubility, the component can be easily stored, transported and applied on clean substrates, which might increase the chances of survival of the settled recruits. Thus, this broad settlement cue has the chance to advance reef restoration projects.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12409-5Chemical settlement cuesCycloprodigiosinScleractinian coralsCoral larval settlementReef restoration
spellingShingle Laura J. Fiegel
Samuel Nietzer
David Brefeld
Robbert C. Geertsma
Ronald Osinga
Peter J. Schupp
Matthias Y. Kellermann
Cycloprodigiosin: A multispecies settlement cue for scleractinian coral larvae
Scientific Reports
Chemical settlement cues
Cycloprodigiosin
Scleractinian corals
Coral larval settlement
Reef restoration
title Cycloprodigiosin: A multispecies settlement cue for scleractinian coral larvae
title_full Cycloprodigiosin: A multispecies settlement cue for scleractinian coral larvae
title_fullStr Cycloprodigiosin: A multispecies settlement cue for scleractinian coral larvae
title_full_unstemmed Cycloprodigiosin: A multispecies settlement cue for scleractinian coral larvae
title_short Cycloprodigiosin: A multispecies settlement cue for scleractinian coral larvae
title_sort cycloprodigiosin a multispecies settlement cue for scleractinian coral larvae
topic Chemical settlement cues
Cycloprodigiosin
Scleractinian corals
Coral larval settlement
Reef restoration
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12409-5
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