These results indicate that warmer temperatures lead to higher population densities of P. Warmer seawater (24–30☌) also increased egg hatching success compared to cooler conditions (21☌). Our findings show that warmer seawater shortened generation times at 27☌ it took, on average, 11 days for eggs to hatch, and 35 days for flatworms to reach sexual maturity, giving a minimum generation time of 38 days, whereas at 24☌ the generation time was 64 days. acroporae from a long-term in vivo culture on Acropora species to examine the effects of temperature (3☌ increments from 21 to 30☌) on flatworm embryonation period, hatching success, hatchling longevity, and time to sexual maturity. To guide the treatment of infested corals we investigated the flatworm’s life cycle parameters at a range of temperatures that represent those found in reef tanks, coral aquaculture facilities and seasonal fluctuations in the wild. The Acropora coral-eating flatworm (AEFW), Prosthiostomum acroporae (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida: Prosthiostomidae) feeds on wild and cultivated Acropora species and its inadvertent introduction into reef tanks can lead to the rapid death of coral colonies. 8Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, United StatesĪs coral aquaculture is increasing around the world for reef restoration and trade, mitigating the impact of coral predators, pathogens and parasites is necessary for optimal growth.7Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom.6Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.5Independent Researcher, Houston, TX, United States.

4Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand.James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.2Australian Institute of Marine Science, Cape Cleveland, QLD, Australia.1Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.Bourne 1,2,3 Craig Humphrey 2 Cat Dybala 5 Kate A.

Flat worm eggs