Coral spawning events in the Great Barrier Reef occur on only a handful of nights each year, with multiple species releasing eggs and sperm in mass simultaneous events synchronized to lunar cycles and water temperature. The synchronization increases the chance that gametes will encounter compatible partners in the open water despite the reef covering enormous areas.
Based on the passage, which inference is most strongly supported about coral spawning?
- A
Synchronization reduces the chance of successful fertilization
- B
Coral species reproduce randomly with no temporal patterning
- Ccheck_circle
Mass synchronization functions as a solution to a reproductive challenge posed by the species' fixed locations
- D
Lunar cycles have no influence on coral biology
Explanation
Synchronized release boosting encounter probability for sessile organisms supports A. B, C, D contradict the passage.